José Padilha's hyper kinetic and ultra violent film on Brazil's elite squad is good companion piece to "City of God" where the latter film focused on the criminal side, this one focuses on law enforcement's side. The elite squad known as BOPE steps in when the police fail are the most experienced and the only means to fight a losing battle to criminal elements that are out of control in the slums where innocent civilians are collateral damage in the never ending battle. The BOPE makes LAPD look like nice guys but they are the product of their environment where survival of the fittest rule and the slightest mistake can cost you your life. Through a burn-out BOPE captain and two idealistic rookies, Padilha paints a pessimistic portrait of a society out of control where idealism is crashed by violence on a daily basis. 1001 Films' coverage of the Los Angeles Film Festival.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
The Elite Squad
José Padilha's hyper kinetic and ultra violent film on Brazil's elite squad is good companion piece to "City of God" where the latter film focused on the criminal side, this one focuses on law enforcement's side. The elite squad known as BOPE steps in when the police fail are the most experienced and the only means to fight a losing battle to criminal elements that are out of control in the slums where innocent civilians are collateral damage in the never ending battle. The BOPE makes LAPD look like nice guys but they are the product of their environment where survival of the fittest rule and the slightest mistake can cost you your life. Through a burn-out BOPE captain and two idealistic rookies, Padilha paints a pessimistic portrait of a society out of control where idealism is crashed by violence on a daily basis. 1001 Films' coverage of the Los Angeles Film Festival.
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