World View
Enticed by the balmy allure of exotic sounds and colours, and not least of all fiery Latino temperaments, the British cinema-viewing public has been increasingly warming to Latin American cinema.
Recent films Amores Perros and City of God, which (literally) shot to cult status in 2000 and 2002 respectively, arguably set a worldwide trend in social commentaries which portray the brutally treacherous underbelly of criminality amongst the thick gangs which spill out of deprived, and, it would seem, depraved, communities.
Since the success of City of God in particular, film makers across the world have been unafraid to dig deep into the bowels of corrupt cities and expose the messy entrails of communities ruled by guns, drugs and dirty money. The Brazilian myth of breakfasting at 2 in the afternoon against a backdrop of palm trees swaying to the samba has been noticeably shaken, and yet the film was the target of criticism for some who believed it glamourised violence, and that its characters were implausible.
Favela Rising, the latest dose of Rio favela culture to hit the screens of arthouse cinemas, may go some way to separate fact and fiction. On viewing the opening credits, one might expect this to be yet another injection of that unbridled Brazilian passion concentrated on celluloid for the delectation and disapproval of arthouse audiences: tantalising music, subtly crafted shots saturated with macaw blues, yellows and greens. However, Favela Rising is crucially different; it is a documentary.
Its makers, both debuting directors, started to film for an idealistic fly on the wall project, shadowing a community movement called AfroRaggae. Founded in the early nineties, the movement works for social stability through community projects involving music, dance and other art forms. For the American co-directors, both disillusioned by their country’s work ethic and vacuous community spirits, this seemed to be perfect panacea.
Nevertheless, the film crew could not escape documenting a violence endemic in the Rio slums. Some of the most precious, revealing footage in the film was apparently taken by local kids • left to record alone with DV cameras lent to them by the crew. The portrayal of raw violence as a way of life for many children, in tandem with the rich rhythms of a party culture, seems to ring true in Favela Rising.
20th Apr 2006