When a doctor decides to carry out an AIDS prevention program inside Latin America’s largest prison: the Casa de Detenção de São Paulo - Carandiru, he meets the future victims of one of the darkest days in Brazilian History when the State of São Paulo’s Military Police, with the excuse for law enforcement, shot to death 111 people. Based on real facts and on the book written by Dráuzio Varella.
Acting
Ensemble cast of actual ex-inmates brings devastating authenticity.
Direction
Babenco filmed inside the real prison weeks before demolition.
Production
Crowded cell blocks so real you can smell them.
Director
Héctor Babenco
Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos
Doutor (Physician)
Milton Gonçalves
Chico
Ivan de Almeida
Nego Preto (Ebony)
Aílton Graça
Majestade (Majesty)
Maria Luísa Mendonça
Dalva
Aida Leiner
Rosirene
Rodrigo Santoro
Lady Di
Gero Camilo
Sem Chance (No Way)
Lázaro Ramos
Ezequiel
Caio Blat
Deusdete
Wagner Moura
Zico
Julia Ianina
Francineide
Sabrina Greve
Catarina
Floriano Peixoto
Antônio Carlos
Ricardo Blat
Claudiomiro
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Director Héctor Babenco was himself imprisoned during Brazil's military dictatorship, which explains why he fought for years to make this film.
The real Carandiru massacre led to the prison's demolition and became a symbol of police impunity in Brazil—officers involved were finally convicted in 2013, a decade after this film's release.
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