Carandiru

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: March 21, 2003 (Brazil) / May 14, 2004 (USA)

DVD Release Date: September 21, 2004

Plot 411: The largest prison in Latin America and its inmates seen through the eyes of a doctor who screens for and treats the prisoners for HIV and gets to know them as people.

Review: Based on the real-life experiences of Dr. Drauzio Varella, who worked in Carandiru Penitentiary, this film gives the audience a different perspective of life in jail. It humanizes the inmates despite the violence that they have lived throughout their lives. The setting and jail life reminded me of Prison Break's Sona seen in season 3 - similarly decorated walls and cells, hierarchy of prisoners, abundant drugs, gang wars, etc. - only this time it is real. The doctor develops a relationship with the prisoners that is based on trust and many speak to him as a friend or seek him for advice. Through their conversations we learn the how's and why's of their imprisonment. They all have reasons for doing what they did to get them convicted - some are more noble than other. Many are waiting for a judge's decision and must pass the time in prison. Others are there with little hope of ever seeing the outside world. In both cases, life in prison must be lived and it has its own rules that must be followed. The film culminates in a riot and the Carandiru Massacre. Authorities entered the prison with guns blazing and killed over 100 inmates despite the fact that they were surrendering. In this scene we see that cruelty and violence can be perpetrated just as easily and equally by both the supposedly good and supposedly bad.

Watch It: If you need a dose of reality and want to be inspired to fight for social reform within the prisons or if you just need a Prison Break patch to help ease the pain of the series' cancellation.

Skip It: If you're the type who prefers The Matrix's red pill and do not want to deal with life in the pen in any country.

Trailer: