Carandiru

The director of PIXOTE and KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN returns with an extraordinary portrait of life in San Paolo’s notorious prison of the same name. CARANDIRU was a huge hit in Brazil, outselling even CITY OF GOD. Based on a bestseller, the film reveals a grim setting crammed with all sorts of characters, from macho lover to super-glam transvestite, a community both fraught with dangers and rife with laughter. Linked by a prison doctor, the inmates tell their stories, with a hint of telenovela, and a surprising joyfulness peeking through. But the mood changes abruptly for the final scenes.“Hugely energetic and masterfully directed, CARANDIRU is a passionate epic and enthralling piece of storytelling.” London Film Festival catalogue