Synopsis:
June 12, 2000, is a day that will forever be remembered by the people of Brazil. Early that morning, as the citizens of Rio de Janeiro woke up and made their way to work and school, several people...
June 12, 2000, is a day that will forever be remembered by the people of Brazil. Early that morning, as the citizens of Rio de Janeiro woke up and made their way to work and school, several people fell victim to a dangerous hijacking on a bus near the city's historic botanical gardens. A lone gunman, seemingly insane or under the influence of narcotics, held his victims captive as authorities--and television cameras--surrounded the parked bus. Unable to determine his motives or purpose, the authorities stood their ground for four hours and tried to talk the hijacker into giving himself up. Meanwhile, the television cameras recorded every second with shocking intimacy, capturing the attention of the entire nation for the duration of the standoff.
Jose Padilha's nail-biting documentary thrillingly recounts the events of that fateful day, and also gives voice to the hijacker, 21-year-old Sandro do Nascimento. At a very young age, Sandro watched his mother be murdered. Later, as an orphaned teenager living on the streets of Rio, he survived the brutal police slaughter of several of his homeless friends. Poor, hopeless, and hooked on cocaine, Sandro finally reached his breaking point. Padilha's unflinching thriller boldly gives voice to Nascimento, proving that he also was a victim in this unfortunate situation.
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11/23/09
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