The only thing that could have made this movie better was finding out it was a true story at the end. This also ranks as one of the best foreign films I've seen. It captures many things about Brazil. From the terror of the slums to the pretty landscapes, to the diversity of the people residing there. The movie is one of the most terrifying things I've seen. Fernando Meirelles works with Katia Lund to direct this movie, and bring to life almost every single character that is in the movie. Whether it's the main character Rocket, or just a minor one that is one of the women who makes a few appearance it pulls you into all their lives and sees the roundabout destiny they take as their lives are affected by crime.
Summary: Rocket and Lil'Dice are two boys who grow up in the same violent neighborhood, Rio de Janeiro. They have very different aspirations, and both know how to fight for what they want. Their lives though take two different paths. Rocket is an aspiring photographer and Lil'Dice goes the route of a drug dealer. Rocket may be one of the kindest guys someone would meet, but Lil'Dice is one of the most violent and arrogant drug dealers there is, and when he begins to make himself known in the city things turn disastrous.
