A doctor (Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos) offers to carry out an AIDS prevention scheme in the largest prison in Latin America, Carandiru where he sees first hand the reality of prisons, which includes violence, overcrowding of cells and poor facilities. However, despite all the problems, the doctor soon realizes that the prisoners are not demonic figures as they also share solidarity, organization and a great will to live.
Brazil's Official Submission - Best Foreign Language Film
Best director, best adapted script
Best sound
Official Selection - Golden Palm
7 awards, including Special Jury Award
BASED ON THE BOOK ESTAÇÃO CARANDIRU BY DRAUZIO VARELLA
A FILM BY HECTOR BABENCO
RODRIGO SANTORO, MILTON GONÇALVES, LUIZ CARLOS VASCONCELOS, MARIA LUISA MENDONÇA, CAIO BLAT, WAGNER MOURA, LÁZARO RAMOS, ANTONIO GRASSI, RICARDO BLAT, GERO CAMILO, MILHEM CORTAZ, FLORIANO PEIXOTO, AILTON GRAÇA, IVAN ALMEIDA
HB FILMES, SONY PICTURES CLASSICS, COLUMBIA TRISTAR, GLOBO FILMES AND BR PETROBRAS present CARANDIRU screenplay by VICTOR NAVAS, FERNANDO BONASSI and HECTOR BABENCO director of photography WALTER CARVALHO, ABC art director CLÓVIS BUENO editor MAURO ALICE música ANDRÉ ABUJAMRA casting director VIVIAN GOLOMBEK coordenadora executiva ELIANA SOÁREZ Production Manager CAIO GULLANE associate producer DANIEL FILHO coprodutores FLÁVIO R. TAMBELLINI and FABIANO GULLANE produzido and directed by HECTOR BABENCO