carandiru be hector ( kiss of the spider woman ) babenco sweep epic about life inside the notorious brazilian prison of the same name and which be demolish in 2002 follow a brutal riot during which 111 prisoner be kill ( execution style and supposedly ) and not one cop or guard be kill . the film be base on a book call carandiru station and write by babenco former doctor and who be the official prison doctor for several year . babenco and who have make other film about latin american prison life ( pixote and kiss of the spider woman ) be intrigue and decide to film it . the whole thing be tell from the point of view of the doctor and who spend a great deal of his time try to educate the prison population about the spread of aid which many catch through homosexual sex and dope needle . the bulk of the film involve prisoner come to see him and tell him ( u ) the story of how they wind up behind bar . most of the story be sad and tragic but not without humor and compassion . the prison itself be not at all like what we in america associate with a prison . carandiru be more like a super scummy apartment complex . the prisoner come and go with a shock amount of freedom . the whole thing be basically run by the prisoner . the cell look almost like apartment . on visit day woman and kid wander freely in and around the cell and hall . very strange . the last third of the film be a re creation of the horrific riot which claim the life of so many prisoner . the film be similar in many way to city of god in that it basically an extended brazilian crime saga . but where city of god be nihilistic and adrenaline pumped and carandiru be compassionate and humanistic . make no mistake and this be a brutal and brutal film . but babenco really strive to turn the prisoner into character the audience can understand and even empathize with . none of them be scary and blank face killer like lil ze in city of god . the violence that happen happens for a very tangible reason and often leave a tragic feel . the prisoner seem very trap in life fill with disease and drug and vendetta . a sad film and but also one with a great deal of humor . prisoner like highness and who be eternally juggle two woman at the same time ( even while in prison . ) . and dagger and a brutal killer who be suddenly paralyze by guilt over his action . the image of him wander and wraith like and through the yard be haunt . a superb film . highly recommended .