The opening seconds of Jeff Zimbalist and Matt Mochary’s documentary Favela Rising reveals a startling statistic: between 1987 and 2001 a total of 467 minors were murdered in Palestine and Israel combined. Certainly tragic, but check out the next stat: during the same time, 3,937 youth were killed in Rio de Janiero – a single Brazilian city. And which gets more press coverage?
Favela Rising continues a trend in films about Rio’s slums. And even though it’s the third film to deal with the subject in less than five years, it’s still a powerful eye-opener nonetheless. The film captures brutal footage and damning words towards the city’s police who are accused of being a big part of the problem.
There’s little hope in the favelas. The moment you’re born into them, there appears to be nothing but a small chance of escape. The possibility of making any real money is slim to nonexistent. As a result, many boys switch to moving drugs and carrying machine guns. Stand in the line of fire and blood’s bound to flow.
Anderson Sá was a drug trafficker at one point in his young life. But after a terrible personal tragedy he switched from being a member of the problem to looking for a solution. With the help of some colleagues, Sá was on the ground floor of the Afro Reggae movement. Combining drumming, hip hop beats and dance, the result is something fierce and powerful, much like the essence of early North American rap strived to be. The messages are blunt – exactly as they need to be in order to be an agent of change.
Like City of God and Bus 174 before it, Favela Rising is about as raw as it comes. Many of the interviewees, residents of the slums, speak frankly of their situation and the way things are. This is not an apologetic film, but rather one that looks for the bright side in a bleak situation. Many of the images are disturbing but in a way that makes you want to do something rather than sitting back and letting everyone do their own thing.
With its focus as music and dance as a way to create a positive change, Favela Rising is comparable to Dave LaChappelle similarly titled Rize. Both bring flair and power to the problem of poverty. Unlike many films and articles, Favela Rising doesn’t make its conflict a spectacle to be just enlightened about. You don’t sit and watch this movie and go, “Hm, that’s too bad.” and go on living life. It offers solutions, ways to start the healing. That is where true power comes from.
Favela Rising DVD Review
The film is shown in anamorphic widescreen. The picture appears to be quite saturated, but this appears to be as a result of the original film, not the transfer. Audio is in Dolby Digital 5.1 Portuguese with English subtitles. Extras include a featurette that looks at the documentary and an Afro Reggae music video.
Favela Rising Gallery
Trailer
