This was an incredible film. Yes, that is trite, but truly a moving and thought provoking filme. What can be said about a film that depicts a massacre of over 100 inmates in a Brazilian prison. Police riot squads in foreign countries are given a "carte blanche" attitude in the submission of a prison rebellion. "Take no prisoners" is rather ironic...the police brutally killed prisoners as if to get even with justice; the same justice that sent these men into the filthy Carandiru prison.
Through the prison doctor, we meet various inmates and their stories as how they ended up there. All interesting stories that make you realize that life is tough all over, especially in Latin America. I guess the "machismo" is alive and well in the police forces of those countries.
One thing about foreign films- the violence is somewhat graphic and bone-chilling, especially for one who is starting to enjoy the "action" genre of film. Makes one realize about human rights in the world, as well. Yes, criminals get punished and sent to jail, but what really goes on in those places where the law can get a little too, too "rough." Interesting to note is that the prison was much like a small village. Its own laws and on Visitor's Day, entire families were in the courtyard sharing meals, entertaining...much different from what I suspect the American prison system is like on Visitor Days.
It is a film worth checking out.
A society should be judged not by how it treats its outstanding citizens but by how it treats its criminals.
~ Fyodor Dostoevsky
No comments:
Post a Comment