I wanted to watch some of the Peruvian films playing at the Lima Film Fest, but 8pm is a horrible time. I hate going to the cinema at 8pm… it’s just so full of people. That was Octubre last night, instead I saw The Art of the Steal… and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Time well spent? I’m not sure about Wimpy Kid, but at least I avoided 8pm rush hour.
Contracorriente (Undertow) plays tomorrow… at 8pm. I might try to catch that, but again. Why 8pm?
Instead, I caught my 2nd viewing for Inception today. I was surprised to catch myself yawing a couple of times. I have made up my mind about it. It’s still a good movie, but this time I can officially tell you that I liked Joseph Gordon Levitt and Marion Cotillard scenes the best.
I need to keep up with my music reviews.
While formatting my aunt’s computer. That’s a bonus. I hate Vista.
I also need to format mine. The audio and video are playing… funny.
Entre a Luz e a Sombra (2009)
Genre: Documentary
Directed by: Luciana Burlamaqui
Between Light and Shadow is a documentary that spans 7 years into the life of a Brazilian actress, who devotes herself to working with the prisoners in Carandiru — which was the largest penitentiary in South America [there's even a movie about the 1992 massacre there]– A couple of the prisoners, Rap duo 509-E members Dexter and Afro-X, who were there for different sentences, are encouraged to create music.
The documentary shows that even though the actress [whose name escapes me, and doesn't show up anywhere] and the guys from 509-E were born in the same city, but where born in different parts of town and in different families, there’s a disconnect. This is why The Actress spends 20 years of her life working with prisoners on theater workshops, dancing, encouraging them to create music, or paint, while also supporting 509-E in their rap careers in and outside prison. The rap duo is granted permission to perform at events outside prison while still doing their sentences because the judge granting these permissions is convinced that this is a good way to give prisoners a second chance.
Of course politicians and police enforcement officers are against prisoners going out and commenting on political issues. And of course the duo, young at that time, was against “The Man” so they didn’t waste any time to speak up.
There are problems in Carandiru, the prisoners take over the prison with hostages — “We have women and kids” read one of the messages they hung — and the situation got out of control. The prison was closed down, the prisoners transfered, and Carandiru was demolished. With terrorist groups running rampant in and out of prison, government officials stopped letting prisoners do public events… even when 509-E was winning big in the Rap festivals and awards.
Finally, as time passed by, Dexter and Afro-X split after Dexter was transfered to another prison, and Afro-X was given probation because he was fathering a child with singer Simony.
In a telling ending, both Dexter and The Actress — who were a couple in the beginning of the documentary — tells us what we’ve known all along. Maybe it’s just better to put your best effort in keeping children out of the prisons. Because once people live “the life” and feel proud of it, there’s never going back.
2.75/5
COMPETENCIA OFICIAL – DOCUMETAL
Screenings:
Tuesday 10 @ 4pm in Centro Cultural Catolica – Sala Azul
This gorgeous info graphic — it’s hot pink! — is tied-in with the documentary Waiting for Superman, which talks about the education system (or not-a-system, if you’d like) in the USA.
The animation is done by Jorge R. Canedo Estrada, who studied in the Digital Design program at VFS ;O
I’m always for diversity… but when that diversity gets done by diversity, it gets seen by diversity, and in the end… the people that need diversity the most [straight white people, I suppose in America?] never get to watch these films.
Other than that… I hope I ran into a copy of this — legally, or not so legally… depending on distribution. *hint nudge* online distribution *cough cough* it’s always important to make people watch. Otherwise, how else who other people learn about diversity? Right?
and well, hi there~
Ricky Martin, Anna Paquin, Sean Hayes?
It’s nice to see you =D
don’t wanna mark this off as a trailer because I don’t have a graphic…
(3) | 
