this film open in this country recently and right after another prison massacre in brazil and where inmate be kill after they riot . hector babenco film be a sad commentary on society failure to turn these criminal in jail and into law abide citizen . if anything and this film could be a vivid reminder to law break people about what they can expect when they have to pay their debt and must serve time under condition such a the one we see in carandiru prison . add to that the horrible condition of jail in certain part of the world . any would be criminal should think twice about the consequence of their action . land in a penal institution be a hellish experience and at best . how can lawmaker of the world think that a criminal mind will be change by send them to place such a carandiru . if anything and place these criminal with other criminal in such condition will perpetuate crime and if the prisoner survive the term and he will be scar for life . not have read the book in which this film be base and it be only fair to say that mr. babenco and an excellent director and have give u a realistic film about what hell must be like .