MANDA BALA (SEND A BULLET)

I saw this documentary at the Chicago International Doc Fest. It is definitely unlike any documentary that I have ever seen. Shot on 35mm with a 2.35 : 1 aspect ratio, with amazing cinematography and commanding music, the film feels more like a fiction film than a documentary. Some might have issues with the way the film is structured, in that it jumps back and forth, between stories. Others might feel that its shots are too staged or that ethical lines have been crossed by protecting murderers and kidnappers. Nonetheless, Manda Bala is a immensely interesting look at modern day San Paulo, with a critical glance. This film would be great to look at for those of you that are in the corporate abuses or domestic policy groups. Here's the synopsis:

Brazil is known for its beautiful beaches, lush rain forests, and vibrant culture. However, in recent years, the country has developed more of a reputation for corrupt politicians, kidnapping, and plastic surgery. Manda Bala (Send a Bullet) artfully connects these seemingly disparate elements and conducts a dazzling, yet harrowing, examination of the tragic domino effect that has reshaped the face of the country and created an entire industry built on corruption. From its unlikely opening on a money-laundering frog farm, Manda Bala displays a strikingly distinctive tone. Featuring a stylish score and articulate interviews with kidnappers, kidnap victims, and the people who profit off them, as well as the paranoid people whose lives they impact, it looks and sounds more like a stylized fiction film than a heavy political doc. However, it is never glib or trivial, and always inventive and haunting. It documents Brazilian reality without falling into patronizing cliches and reveals that corruption and kidnapping represent two sides of the same violent crime: the rich steal from the poor people of Brazil, while the poor steal back some of the rich people.


http://www.mandabala.com/index.html