Elite Squad and Elite Squad 2
Elite Squad is, by far, the first serious blockbuster to portray the harsh reality of Brazilian slums. Unlike City of God, which is just eye-candy based on real misery (don't even get me started), Elite Squad shows what it is like to be Brazilian and deal with everyday violence. The protagonist, Captain Nascimento, is an extremely well-intended police officer who believes in violence for a good cause - he kills, tortures and makes Dick Cheney look like a puppet. Although the screenwriter though of Captain Nascimento as anything but a role model, the character became a hero under the eye of many Brazilians, tired with the relentless violent of our big cities. Based on a book written by two retired officers and a sociologist, it's an accurate in-depth description of what the current problems law enforcement officials have to deal with in Rio de Janeiro. And, unlike City of God, which may have been a slap on the wrist of conscious viewers, Elite Squad is a epically powerful uppercut full of distilled rage in the cracked nuts of Brazilian society.
Elite Squad 2 shows an even more complex web of relationships behind violence in Brazil, showing how the problem of corruption is entrenched deeply in the government and how difficult it can be to untangle this mess. It shows how I am responsible, here in the capital, for the mess that goes on in Rio. And, as someone who wants my home country to be a safe haven where honest citizens can thrive, I can still see the blood dripping on the carpet after the irate blow delivered against my face.
It deserves an Oscar. It definitely does.
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