Perfect cast and a good story

Nice effects though.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Despite what some reviews and reviewers state, Carandiru is, for the large part, gloriously human and humane, without ever resorting to mawkish sentimentality. The story is based on a real event and when I saw it on TV some years ago and I so much wanted to see it again, I bought the DVD, now cheap.Yes, these characters are a handful of long-term convicts in one of largest prisons in the world - 7000 of them, in one (in San Pualo, Brazil), that's designed for 'only' 4,000 and we are introduced to them and their frank, matter-of-fact lives as they describe their drug and sex life 'inside' to the wonderfully open and compassionate doctor ( Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos). It's from his perspective as, part of his training, he's thrown into the deep end as he tries to treat and educate prisoners about AIDS.Amongst the knowing humour, there are tales of anguish, violence and heartache with the main character's stories being run as flashbacks. Most of the crime is petty but circumstance and poverty has dumped most of these damaged people into one huge melting pot, of squalor, STD's and drugs. One finds it surprisingly easy to be open and impartial about situations that could make your toes curl.Despite the vivid colours used and the Latin music that gets played in and amongst this tapestry of a human jigsaw, where few of the pieces fit, mounting signs reveal an underbelly of unrest, a pressure-cooker that's about to boil over and when it does and armed police march in, the film turns dark, angry and really hits the viewer. I won't say why, though the closing epilogues do (very) partially redress some of what went on.This is essential Brazilian drama. Gritty, hard-hitting, yes but if you've got the stomach for the excellent City of God, you'll have no trouble here. Buy it, watch it, you'll feel like a proper human being, I promise you.

Brazil is a country of contrasts, and this movie show that perfectly. The same person that can kill somebody without thinking it twice can be nice and gentle at very the next moment. Been in Brazil has this feeling, you may expect violence and danger, but you may get 99% of the time generosity and happiness. An, well, when you put 8000 man in the space of 4000, and they manage to create a micro-universe with there own rules, that works better than the world outside, it just can be in Brazil. Plenty of humor, humanity and honestly, this movie is superior to City Of God, just because it has a positive, optimist message regarding that'111 or so prisoners died in the 1990s' as Alexdffy point out above, showing a lot of respect for human life. Wightly recommended for open minds, that can see the person beyond the criminal...and not criminal to.

My friend lent me this film and to be honest I was not really interested or excited about seeing it. I only put it on because boredom had took over me so I was not expecting to see a good film!! The film starts off with lots of characters shouting and arguing, also I am not used to watching films with subtitles so to say I was slightly confused would be an understatement!! 15 minutes in and I was hooked, I wont give anything away but the film focuses on a selection of inmates and their life in Carandiru prison. It also has sub stories on how they became to be inmates. Some amusing, shocking and interesting moments throughout the film will have the viewer completely tuned in to the way of life these inmates had. This is a true story about the massacre of inmates at the prison when police dealt with a riot. It is an amazing film and the ending is brilliant. I have watched it 4 times with different people and they too agree it was excellent. If you like prison movies and don't mind reading subtitles this film is for you. In my opinion its almost as good as shawshank redemption (my favorite film) and better than midnight express. This is only my opinion and I am sure people will argue otherwise but from me this film gets an 8 out of 10.

"Carandiru" is a prison flick which takes the audience behind the walls and into the halls of an over crowded, dilapidated detention facility in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Unlike the typical Hollyweird version of prison life, you'll see a panoply of unusually happy and gregarious inmates who seem to have the run of their pavilion living in sweaty cells with open doors, many of the comforts of home including surf boards, TVs, plenty of drugs, civilian clothing, etc. all seemingly coping well with prison life until the end when a riot erupts. Part of this long 2.5 hour flick centers on a physician and wanders via flashbacks into the lives of some key inmate characters showing us how they managed to end up in the joint. The balance is a tedious tale of the ups and downs of inmate life from a program to stop the spread of AIDS to a gay marriage to a stabbing to lots of small talk to the final riot, etc. Well cast and adequately shot with the real deal for the prison location, this colorful flick has it's upside. On the downside, however, budget constraints were evident in poor effects, emotional investment is difficult at best, and what story there is seems trite and lacking focus. I found myself completely bored with it at the 2 hour mark. Recommended only for those interested in prison life south of the border who don't mind subtitles. (C+)