Pixote (1981)

Don't listen to the negative reviews

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Like its Moroccan companion film, Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets, Pixote is raw and hard hitting. It's kinda funny, well, maybe not so funny, that these kids, their bleak worlds thousands of miles apart, would have such similar circumstances. It's easy to forget that, living in a relatively modern society with well-groomed suburbs and food on every table, some people are really tormented out there. There are ghettos in America like the ones in Brazil, so it is a common, but sad, truth.Pixote had to be a foreign language film because Hollywood would never shoot some of the scenes Hector Babenco did. They're pretty controversial, even by today's standards, and no doubt would never pass the censorship board here. The MPAA would suggest so many cuts that, in the end, Pixote would end up looking like Sesame Street. Movies like these really open your eyes to the plight of people living in very poor conditions. I can just imagine what the Syrian-based foreign language films in the future will look like. They'll probably be so graphic they'd be impossible to watch. Still, this is reality, and if you can handle it, give Pixote a shot.

The military use of children as soldiers continues to disturb all peace loving people as a wrong message is sent by making them go to war. However, a different kind of war is continually being waged in Brazil which is considered to be one of the most dangerous places in the world. It concerns the involvement of young, homeless children in various senseless acts of violence. This contemporary topic has been deftly handled by famous Brazilian director Hector Babenco in his film "Pixote, the law of the weakest" which is brutal yet an honest film about the vicious circle of violence whose victims happen to be children who have all been rejected by their families. Holding family members responsible for the plight of their children, Hector Babenco shows how poor children are forced to choose a criminal career path as they have been abandoned by their family members. Although "Pixote" was made in 1981, it has not aged a bit due to its status as a work of reference documenting the plight of homeless Brazilian children. Some scenes and situations might shock sensitive viewers but "Pixote" doesn't fail to deliver home the message that life is stranger and harsher than filmed images as this film's protagonist Fernando Ramos da Silva was killed in 1987. His death was the result of police brutality, an action which continues to give bad press to Brazil.

I've been studying Brazilian cinema since 2004, when I stumbled onto "Cidade de Deus / City of God". Let me tell you something, this movie is probably as good or BETTER than "City of God".The acting, cinematography and music supervision make this movie a unique experience. I have not been to Brazil yet, but this movie presents the harsh reality that is beset before the citizens of São Paulo.I recommend this movie if you enjoy good cinema. This movie is disturbing and you may feel a bit despondent after watching it.Something you want to watch, but nothing you want to go to sleep on.

The film opens with the director talking to the camera and saying he is going to show a story about Brazilain street kids whose families live in poverty and must steal and kill to survive. In fact the main character (Pixote) was played by an actual street kid only 11 years old. What follows was one of the most brutal, depressing and horrifying film I've even seen. I saw it about 17 years ago (on a double bill with "Black Orpheus") and have never forgotten it. I don't think I ever want to see it again--it was just too much. SPOILER AHEAD!!!! The scene which will not leave me is when Pixote meets a prostitute who has to abort her own fetus. You don't see her do it...but you get a quick glance at what she got out. It's almost 20 years later and just recalling that scene upsets me. SPOILER END!!!!!The movie gets more brutal as it goes along and ends the only way it can. What's all the more harrowing is stories like this really did happen in Brazil in 1981...and are STILL happening today.A harrowing brutal film...but it should be seen if you can handle it. I'm surprised this got an R rating--I've seen X rated film that are less graphic. A 10.