10-year-old Pixote endures torture, degradation, and corruption at a local youth detention center where two of its members are murdered by policemen who frame Lilica, a 17-year-old trans hustler. Pixote helps Lilica and three other boys escape and they start to make their living by a life of crime which only escalates to more violence and death.
Acting
Fernando Ramos da Silva—non-professional, devastatingly authentic.
Direction
Babenco blurred documentary and fiction; the kids barely knew they were acting.
Cinematography
São Paulo as predator and prison, shot like a fever dream.
Director
Héctor Babenco
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Babenco cast actual street children; many couldn't read the script. The 'performance' is trauma made visible.
BR
