Megacities - the favelas

[lakedaemonian]

Re: Megacities - the favelas

One of the better videos I've seen about the favelas.

There are a LOT of interesting components to it:

*Brazilian police and BOPE(Police paramilitaries/SWAT) operations are far more narcowar/counter-insurgency/paramilitary than traditional law enforcement. They have little to no real controland only limited temporary influence over the favelas.

*Drug/gang leaders are clearly in the role of acting the part of local government in terms of influence and control over essential services, welfare, law enforcement, and justice.

Is it really a war on drugs/crime?

Or is it really a battle for governance?

I think governance is the key word.

[ProdigyofZen]

Re: Megacities - the favelas

Watched the movie and thought it was very well done, albeit difficult to watch. In typical western style, I was waiting (hoping) for some closure to the chaos (e.g., the problems get solved, everyone kisses and makes up, and a "west side story" ending). Doesn't happen. Instead, the "runts" (watch the movie) ruthlessly kill the drug lord in an unexpected hail of gun fire, and in a matter of minutes take over his entire drug dealing empire. The movie ends as the 9-12 year old "runts" frolic down the street, joking around & carelessly waiving 357 magnums in their hands, pondering such drug empire management questions as: "Does anyone know how to write?"

West Side Story? Definitely not. Think Lord of the Flies on steroids. Does not bode well for the 1st world, high-density mega cities with high unemployment that are predicted for our (near?) future.

think, did you watch the movie off of my suggestion or you had seen it before?

[think365]

Re: Megacities - the favelas

think, did you watch the movie off of my suggestion or you had seen it before?

Totally based on your suggestion, Zen. I had never heard of it before.

[ProdigyofZen]

Re: Megacities - the favelas

Totally based on your suggestion, Zen. I had never heard of it before.

Ah okay great! Then you should also watch Tropa de Elite http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0861739/ another great movie on Brasil and their attempt at "pacifying" the favelas.

One of the most egregious concepts I observed in Brasil was this: http://www.favelatour.com.br/ing/index.htm

Unbelievable that they have "tours" of the favelas so you can see how the poor people of Brasil live.....

Anyway I watched City of God back in 2002 when it came out and I was 18 years old, I didn't quite have the reaction you had. I accepted it for what it was and knew this was how a lot of people lived world wide.

[ProdigyofZen]

Re: Megacities - the favelas

Watched the movie and thought it was very well done, albeit difficult to watch. In typical western style, I was waiting (hoping) for some closure to the chaos (e.g., the problems get solved, everyone kisses and makes up, and a "west side story" ending). Doesn't happen. Instead, the "runts" (watch the movie) ruthlessly kill the drug lord in an unexpected hail of gun fire, and in a matter of minutes take over his entire drug dealing empire. The movie ends as the 9-12 year old "runts" frolic down the street, joking around & carelessly waiving 357 magnums in their hands, pondering such drug empire management questions as: "Does anyone know how to write?"

West Side Story? Definitely not. Think Lord of the Flies on steroids. Does not bode well for the 1st world, high-density mega cities with high unemployment that are predicted for our (near?) future.

One of the biggest problems in Brasil is the "runts" or "criancas gangs." Literally a group of 10 to 20 kids will swarm you in broad daylight as you walk down the sidewalk and strip you of any valuables you have.

They may only be 8 to 12 years old but there are so many that you cannot fight them off. The key is NOT to look like a tourist....

Last time I was in Brasil there was a rash of these brazen daylight robberies and they ended up stationing police officers every 100 yards in the areas the robberies were occurring (Ipanema, Leblon, Copacabana) in Rio.