Those of us born with rights and privileges, however limited they might be, are kings and queens compared to those who are born with absolutely no rights or privileges. This film is a glimpse into the life of that lower caste.

It's easy enough for us to say "Well, you always have a choice." But here, the director, Hector Babenco, puts the final nail in the coffin of that idea. The film seems almost documentary, which is exactly what makes this opus a masterpiece.

With the exception of Marília Pêra, the actors were not actors. They were drawn from the inner city of São Paulo itself, wher... read the rest.