Pixote
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| Pixote | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Hector Babenco |
| Written by | Hector Babenco Jorge Durán |
| Starring | Fernando Ramos Da Silva Jorge Julião Gilberto Moura Edilson Lino |
| Release date(s) | May 5, 1981 |
| Running time | 128 min |
| Language | Portuguese |
| IMDb profile | |
Pixote: A Lei do Mais Fraco (in English: Pixote: The Law of the Weakest), is a Brazilian drama film directed and written by Hector Babenco, released in 1981. It is the chilling, documentary-like account of Brazil's deliquent youth and how they are used by corrupt police and other crime organizations to commit crimes.
[edit] Plot summary
The film stars Fernando Ramos Da Silva (who was tragically murdered at the age of 19 in São Paulo) as Pixote and Marília Pêra as Sueli. The plot revolves around Pixote, a young boy who is sent to a children reformatory (FEBEM). It soon becomes clear that the young criminals are only pawns in the criminal, sadistic games of the prison guards and their commander. When a boy dies of physical abuse by the guards, they frame the lover of the transgender girl Lilica (Jorge Julião), the rather flaming prison homosexual, for the murder, who then conveniently also dies, with some help by the guards.
Soon after, Pixote, Lilica, and his Dito use an opportunity to flee from the prison. First they stay at the apartment of a former lover of Lilica (Cristal), but when tensions arise they go to Sao Paulo for a drug deal—but there they get duped by a showgirl. After some time bumming around the city, Pixote and his friend go to a club for another drug deal. While there, Pixote finds the showgirl that took their drugs and stabs her.
Later they become pimps for the prostitute Sueli who is definitely past her prime. The plan is to rob her johns, but that scheme fails when an American john fights back (because he apparently does not understand Portuguese) so they have to shoot him.
| Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Australia: | Banned (original rating) R (re-rating after appeal) |
| Finland: | K-18 |
| France: | 12 |
| Iceland: | 16 |
| Norway: | 18 |
| United States: | R (Restricted) |
The movie is shot in documentary fashion and strongly influenced by Italian neo-realism in that amateur actors were used whose real lives strongly resembled those of the protagonists in the film. It was filmed in crime-ridden locations in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Pixote was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1982.
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