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Title: Elite Squad Cast: Wagner Moura, Caio Junqueira, André Ramiro, Maria Ribeiro Director: José Padilha Running Time: 115 mins Release Date: 12 September 2008 Cinema: Cinema Nouveau |
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Tropa de Elite, transalated to Elite Squad in English, is set in Rio de Janeiro in 1997, just before the Pope made a visit to the country of Brazil. My attention to the film was sparked by the fact that it was written by the same writer that brought us City Of God. And also, I've been very fascinated with the films that come from that part of the world, the last one being City Of Men. The stories tend to be raw and told in an equally real fashion. I guess South Africa, also being graded as a Third World country, we can certainly relate to these stories and the lives the Brazilians lead. Elite Squad was no different. It was fascinating, entertaining and does its job at evoking the required emotions. The simple, yet heavy story follows a young police captain, Captain Nascimento (played by Wagner Moura) who has a baby on the way and has been commissioned to ensure the Pope's visit is safe. He has a mandate to get rid the slums of the creeping crime that as a result of drug dealers. The struggles he goes through to cope everyday are brought to the fore. Parallel to his journey are different lives of other characters that put the puzzle together. One of those characters is another young man, André Matias (played by André Ramiro) who wants to revive the once innocence disciple that was the police force, but finds it difficult experiencing the corruption every single day. The film takes an introspective look into the life in the slums of Brazil. There is a great deal of voilence in the movie, but what other crime-related film doesn't. I would certainly recomment this film. If you enjoyed either City Of God or City Of Men, you are going to enjoy Elite Squad. YEAHBO.DOT.NET gives the film 3/5 stars. Please go to YEAHBODOTNET.BLOGSPOT.COM to comment on this review. |