For the setting of a film, there are few countries that can provide a backdrop as raw, vibrant as brutally real as Brazil.
Trash
As we near the release of adventure drama thriller, Trash, set amongst Rio's slums and telling the story of three boys who discover a wallet while trawling through litter and end up on a cat and mouse chase from police in the fight to do what's right, we take a look at some other Brazilian-set films that have had an impact on us over the years.
- City Of God (2002)
City of God (or Cidade de Deus in Portuguese) hit our screens in 2003 and introduced many of us to the gritty realities of gang crime in Brazil. The film, which was adapted from a book loosely based on real life events, hit a note with many cinema-goers, and met with huge critical acclaim.
Drug wars and gang crime are made even more vivid against the backdrop of Rio's suburbs, especially given most of the cast were actually from this region of Brazil. A Brazilian film like no other.
- Rio (2011)
And for something a little more light hearted, this charming 3D animated adventure features Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg), a lovable blue macaw, as he ventures away from his home and discovers love with the only other bird of his kind, the free-spirited Jewel (voiced by Anne Hathaway). Together, the loved-up macaws find themselves at the mercy of an evil cockatoo with a plan to smuggle them away, and must work out a way to escape.
With an incredible talent line up, also featuring the voices of Will.i.am, Jamie Foxx, George Lopez and Tracy Morgan, this trip into the Brazil in animated form makes for a sweet and exciting adventure.
- Fast Five (2011)
Fifth in the hugely successful series of The Fast and the Furious franchise, Fast Five enters the corrupt underworld of Rio, where Dominic, Brian and Mia (played by Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster), plan a heist to steal $100 million from a corrupt businessman. Hot on their tail is DSS Security agent, Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson).
The film met with enormous success, and until the release of the sixth film in the franchise, which surpassed its sales, was the highest grossing film in the franchise. Grossing over $625 million worldwide, this Brazilian-based action thriller because number 66 on the all-time worldwide list of highest grossing films.
- The Way He Looks (2014)
Extremely moving coming-of-age drama, The Way He Looks, or Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho in Portuguese (which literally translates to 'Today I Want to go Back Alone'), tells the story of Leo, a blind teenage boy struggling with growing up as he deals with over protective parents, bullies and relationships.
After befriending a boy at school, he starts to have feelings he'd never felt before, and he has to deal with these new feelings while protecting his friendship with his best friend, Giovanna.
A chance for viewers to see Brazil from a different perspective, far from the crime, gangs, and fighting, this film lets us delve deeper into the characters of the protagonists.
- Trash (2015)
This hugely anticipated film couldn't be set anywhere but Brazil. The story of three best friends striving to do the right thing amongst a world of corruption is complimented perfectly by the gritty backdrop of Rio's slums.
The three unknown stars of the film, Brazilian newcomers Rickson Teves, Eduardo Luis and Gabriel Weinstein play the three boys, Raphael, Gardo and Rato, and bring these characters to life amongst an incredible supporting cast, including Rooney Mara and Martin Sheen.
A chance to see Brazil through the innocent eyes of a child, and certainly not one to be missed.
