Celluloid Tale of Rio's Drug War, Told From Police Perspective, Is the Talk of Brazil - washingtonpost.com

FILM EXPLORES LIFE IN FAVELAS
For decades, most of Rio's 600-plus favelas have been ruled by drug-dealing gangs. The police, both military and civil, have waged war on those groups, and they are often criticized for being as brutal -- if not more so -- than the gangs. Shootouts are common, and favela residents are often caught in the crossfire. Even before it was released in theaters this month, Elite Squad was Brazil's most-watched movie of the season. Director Jose Padilha said his intention was to show the drug war from the perspective of a cop and to let the audience judge whether the cop is good, bad or both. For those with firm opinions about Rio's violence, the movie's refusal to impose its own moral is offensive. (Ed note: for an optimistic view of things check out Favela Rising, an inspirational look at the efforts of a music group to bring some light to their darkness. CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE FILM. Of course, there is also the movie City of God a movie so violent that it upset my German friend for the rest of the day when we watched it in New York. There is also a very interesting TV show by the same name which truly merits watching.)
(WASHINGTON POST)