Former Green Beret Louis Stevens returns to his hometown of Miami after completing military service in Brazil, only to learn that his old high school has become a haven for gangs and drug dealers. After Stevens uses his capoeira skills to kick several drug dealers off of the school property, Kerrigan, one of Stevens' old teachers, sees the impact that Stevens has on the students. Kerrigan gives him the task of teaching Capoeira to a handful of the worst at-risk students at the school.
Practical Effects
Actual capoeira performed by Dacascos himself.
Score
Phenomenal soundtrack mixing hip-hop and Brazilian beats.
Stunts
Gymnastic fight choreography still impresses.
Director
Sheldon Lettich
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Mark Dacascos trained in capoeira for this role and became the art's most visible American ambassador, later starring in Iron Chef America.
This was the first Hollywood film to feature capoeira prominently, sparking both global interest and criticism for reducing a complex Afro-Brazilian tradition to 'cool kicks.'
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