Watch Carandiru in the dark

Trycia 2022-03-18 08:01:01

The original text was written in December 2006

after watching "Carandiru" in the dark, and I took a deep breath. The moment the classroom lights were turned on, the dazzling light made me dizzy. At the same time, I was so fortunate that I was still in this bright world.

Before watching the movie, I didn't know anything about this movie, and I didn't even know that carandiru is the largest and most notorious prison in South America (forgive my ignorance), when I saw the Chinese title "Carandiru" When these four strange Chinese characters are combined, there is absolutely no way to tell the beauty (inexplicable). So there are no high expectations for this film, unlike "Central Station" and "City of God", which have been famous for a long time, and of course expect them to be as wonderful as the legends describe them. As for "Carandiru", just watch it.

The broadcast started, and the teaching assistant only briefly introduced: "In the words of Mr. Hu in the last class, this is the Brazilian version of Prison Break." "Prison Break" came to say hi, so I'm curious what the Brazilian version will be like.

In the tens of minutes after the film began, there was no surprise, and the population loss rate in the classroom gradually increased. The films I watched in previous lessons, such as "The man who copied" and "City of God", attracted people from the beginning with their unique narrative and dazzling techniques, compared to this film The opening seems a bit bland: the doctor treats and chats with the prisoner, and the prisoner tells the doctor about their "glorious days" in the past. This way of observing and scrutinizing from the perspective of an outsider is nothing new and innovative, and it tells the experience of many people entering the prison in the same way, which makes people feel repetitive and tedious. I began to think that this film is just a super The long version of "Kalandiru - Telling Our Prisoner's Own Story" to the end. But since it's about a prison break, I'll wait, there will definitely be an outbreak.

The film is still proceeding tepidly with its original rhythm. But the further back I get, the more I can appreciate the beauty of that seemingly bland beginning. From the frank confessions of the prisoners, we can see that in fact, many people in prison are not evil by nature, do many evils, and heinous people. Their life experiences are sometimes dramatic, and their understanding of life is also unusual. They said some wise words and made some kind actions, which made people feel that there are a large number of prisoners here. In fact, everyone is a three-dimensional, life-like, living person. Hope, helplessness, depression, frivolity, and struggle, I hope they can get a new life in the end. However, the tragic indiscriminate massacre that happened in the end, people's lives were despised and trampled on like a mustard, and then looking back and thinking about how many people who should have been forgiven but were killed innocently, I can't help but think about it. It is deeply regrettable and shocking.

Like every Brazilian film I've watched before, there are various Brazilian-style unreliable social phenomena everywhere in the camera, and many times I can't imagine what happened in a prison. For example, the scene of the reunion of prisoners and their families during the release of the wind is completely a grand scene of the bustling city. I didn’t expect to be able to celebrate life so comfortably in the prison, which is amazing; From the police to the prisoners, the whole people participate, and they are very serious. The ceremonies such as the national anthem before the game are even more serious, as if watching a regular football match. From this, it can be seen that Brazil is worthy of being a football kingdom. Even in prison, you must have fun to enjoy the joy brought by football; not only that, but also in prisons can also occur in various incidents such as sexual disorder, violence and drug trafficking, and AIDS and other diseases are rampant, in short, the degree of chaos in the entire prison, or Brazilians The tolerance of all kinds of criticisms is far beyond the imagination of ordinary people. From this corner, you can glimpse the unique Brazilian culture - indeed a spectacle of multi-dimensional symbiosis.

The overall style of this film is calm and restrained, and the way of narration is also very simple. This documentary style is also very touching, because we applaud it, not for its artistic style, but for its more important practical significance. But sometimes, the film suddenly explodes in silent place, which is quite shocking. When I saw a transgender person find their beloved in prison and put on a wedding dress to hold a long kiss, I saw that even in such a special place as a prison, there is true love on earth, and there are bright and worthy of praise. warmth. I was still applauding the director's discovery and choice, but the camera suddenly turned, and I immediately saw that the drug dealer Zike was stabbed to death. It was so cruel and bloody that I didn't dare to face it directly. I was still immersed in the warmth just now. I was unprepared for such a huge plot and emotional gap. I was shocked visually and psychologically, and I was shocked by the Brazilian prison. What a terrifying place. At the same time, this kind of picture from heaven to hell is spliced ​​together without any transitions and transitions in the middle. It is amazing that this editing method is too barbaric and domineering.

After holding back for so long and accumulating enough emotions, the Brazilian version of jailbreak is finally about to usher in the moment of volcanic eruption. The various crimes that have grown and spread in the prison for a long time, as well as the violence, hatred and dissatisfaction that fills the place, have planted a time bomb for Karandilu, which may be triggered at any time, causing an unstoppable disaster. But this riot was the opposite of "prison breakout". The prisoners did not escape violently, but collectively imprisoned and vented themselves. They wanted to use this "scale effect" to overwhelm the mountains and to confront the military and police in momentum. However, sadly, this reckless act is doomed to failure, they have no capital to fight against the powerful government and army. When they threw away the only steel knives in their hands, facing the well-equipped riot police who suppressed them, they became completely unarmed. If they wanted to have a way out, the only possibility was to submit and obey, so they desperately ran back to themselves. , want to end the unrest. However, the powerful anti-riot iron hoof stepped in, like a cold machine, carrying out the government's order, as long as there are prisoners, they will fire at all costs. Countless bodies fell down in the screams, blood flowed into rivers, and floating corpses floated on the scull. Facing the muzzle, all prisoners have nothing but fear. The decision of the right to life and death depends entirely on the gunman's thoughts, but almost no one can run into good luck. "I decided to let you go", "I changed my mind", life or death, it's just a matter of moments, sloppy bordering on jokes. When the tragic massacre finally ended, the surviving prisoners were asked to take off their clothes and squat together, and the riot police officers forced each of them to shout: "Long live the riot squad!" This kind of absurdity and helplessness is undoubtedly a great mockery . Blood flowed like a river in the cell building. These liquids representing countless lives were so thick and shocking.

At the end of the film, Karandilu was blown up as a whole. Those who once lived there and what happened there will gradually fade out of the memory of those who came after them with the passage of time. "There is no truth in prison". I dread seeing the epic quote from "City of God" at the end of the film again: "This film is based on a true story." I'd rather believe it's just a movie.

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Extended Reading
  • Chesley 2022-03-25 09:01:23

    It's very real, people are not people, and it's adapted from a true story. In the 1992 riot in Brazil, the riot police went in and killed people, hey. . too messy. . .

  • Alice 2022-03-24 09:03:51

    It's true, there are "fixed parties" in prisons

Carandiru quotes

  • Lady Di: I've come to take the test.

    Médico - Physician: Please, take a seat. First, I'd like to ask you a few questions, Lady Di.

    Lady Di: I've seen this movie before, doctor. I've never needed a blood transfusion and I never pierce my veins. The only drug I use is a joint now and then... when I watch TV or for a little romance.

    Médico - Physician: And partners, how many?

    Lady Di: Oh, about 2000.