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COMO NACEN LOS ANGELES Los infortunados niños del "Morro", las lomas marginadas de Río de Janeiro, se crían solos, en callejones plagados por la pobreza y el crimen. Las hembras son "vendidas" en matrimonio tan pronto entran en la adolescencia. Los varones comienzan a manejar armas antes de que les salga la barba. Con su característico comentario social, Murilo Salles nos cuenta la historia de Branquinha (Priscila Assum, 13 años), una jovencita de la barriada de Santa Marta. Abandonada por sus padres, se casa con Maguila (André Mattos), miembro de una banda de traficantes de drogas. Maguila acaba por matar a su jefe, y el resto de la banda le persigue. Branquinha intenta ayudarle a escapar, pero la banda les descubre. Japa (magistralmente interpretado por el niño-actor Silvio Guindane), compañero de escuela de Branquinha, se les une. Escapan en un carro robado hacia un barrio bien de Rio. Maguila se le acerca a un tal William (Larry Pine), comerciante norteamericano, mientras éste saca su carro del garage. Tras el inevitable tiroteo entre el guardaespaldas de William y nuestro trío, el guardaespaldas yace muerto, y Maguila lleva una pierna herida. Nuestros chicos penetran en la casa de William y se topan con su hija y la sirvienta, quienes intentan llamar a la policía. La historia ahora envuelve una situación de rehenes que nadie quiere, que sólo puede tener un trágico final. Salles logra sostener el suspenso en este impresionante paseo por las desgracias y contrastes del Brasil urbano de hoy, con la inmensa ayuda de las inolvidables actuaciones de su joven reparto. |
HOW ANGELS ARE BORN The misbegotten children of the "Morro," or low-life hills of Rio de Janeiro, raise themselves in the dirty alleys plagued by poverty and crime. Girls are sold off in marriage as soon as they show any signs of adolescence, and boys learn to handle guns before they need to learn how to shave. In his characteristic social commentary, Murilo Salles tells us the story of Branquinha (played by 13-year-old Priscila Assum in a display of rare confidence), abandoned by her family in the shantytown of Santa Marta, who marries Maguila (André Mattos), a lesser member of a drug trafficking gang. Maguila ends up killing his boss, so the rest of the gang come for him. Branquinha and Maguila try to escape, but the gang finds them out. Japa (played memorably by child actor Silvio Guindane), Branquinha's schoolmate, joins them as well. The three turn a stolen car into their getaway, and run off to an exclusive neighborhood of Rio. Maguila approaches William (Larry Pine), an American businessman, as he drives out of his garage. William's bodyguard jumps on Branquinha, and a gunfight ensues. When the shooting ends, the bodyguard lies dead and Maguila has been hit on the leg. Our trio go into William's house, and run into his teenage daughter and their maid. The hostage situation that develops can only lead to a tragic end. Filmmaker Salles manages to sustain the pace of a thriller, with a lot of help from his unimaginably gifted young performers, in this tour of the misfortunes and stark contrasts of the urban Brazil of today. |
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Murilo Salles Nace en Rio de Janeiro en 1951. Se gradúa de la facultad de periodismo. En 1969 comienza a dirigir cortos, y su primer largometraje, Más feliz que nunca (1984), es aclamada por la crítica en el Festival de Cannes. Sus otros largos son Cuchilla de doble filo (89) y Dos billones de corazones (94). |
Murilo Salles Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1951. A graduate of the school of journalism, he began directing short films in 1969. His first feature, Happier than Ever, won rave reviews in the Cannes Film Festival. His other features are Two-Edged Knife (89), Two Billion Hearts (94) and How Angels Are Born (96). |
Director: Murilo Salles |