THE PENITENTIARY SYSTEM IN BRAZIL HAS ABOUT 25O, OOO MEN...
IN APPROXIMATELY 1,OOO PRISONS.
ALMOST HALF THIS NUMBER IS IN SÃO PAULO STATE.
ITS LARGEST PENITENTIARY IS ALSO ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST:
THE HOUSE OF DETENTION LOCATED...
IN THE CARANDIRU PENITENTIARY COMPLEX RECORDS IN...
IT'S HISTORY THE ENTRANCE OF OVER 175,OOO INMATES.
IT BECAME WORLDWIDE KNOWN IN 1992 WHEN AN AWKWARD...
POLICE ACTION TOOK PLACE AT PAVILION 9 RESULTING IN...
111 DEAD INMATES. THIS WAS THE "CARANDIRU MASSACRE".
2OO2 WAS THE END OF THIS DETENTION HOUSE.
OVER 7,OOO INMATES WERE TRANSFERRED...
AND PAVILIONS 6, 8 AND 9 WERE IMPLODED...
DURING AN OFFICIAL CEREMONY LED BY THE STATE GOVERNOR.
THE IMAGES USED IN THIS FILM WERE CAPTURED...
THROUGHOUT SEVEN MONTHS, THE YEAR BEFORE THIS IMPLOSION.
"THE PRISONER OF THE IRON BARS"
(SELF-PORTRAITS)
HOUSE OF DETENTION, 2OO1
CELL 23O9
I'm preparing a coffee for us...
We're locked in here...
paying for the mistakes we've made in the past.
So we have all the system...
against us...
Thus we've got to unite...
and take strength from this union.
Despite the effort for us to suffer physically...
depriving us from medical assistance...
from dental assistance...
feeding us the way they do...
Despite that, our greatest suffering is not physical...
but Ioneliness, isolation...
you're away from your family, far from people you love.
Here you'll have another feeling of what was going on out there.
Something will change in the life of those who experience this.
You can't stay the same.
DOCUMENTARY
My name's Celso Ferreira de Alburquerque...
my record is 153-2O8. I live now at pavilion 2.
Jonas de Freitas Cruz...
record 1O3-297, Pavilion 6.
I'm José Heleno da Silva, I've lived for 4 years at Pavilion 8...
and I'm here at 6 for a month.
Rubens Lima da Silva, now at Pavilion 2.
João Vicente Lopes.
I'm at Pavilion 5, my record is number 124-O47.
Rubens Jonas dos Santos Batista, I live at Pavilion 9.
Adeir Cupertino.
I survived the massacre of Pavilion 9 in '92.
Joel Aparecido da Silva, Pavilion 7, record 169-749.
Marcos Roberto dos Santos, Pavilion 7.
Ronaldo Fernandes Gomes, Pavilion 2, cell 4O3.
Reginaldo Peres, 154-332, Pavilion 2.
Renildo do Nascimento, record 121-553, Pavilion 5.
I'm Kric MC, Cláudio Fabiano.
I live at Pavilion 8, cell 82O7-E.
Flaviano de Souza Fonseca Filho, FW MC...
from Jail Community Pavilion 8.
Code of Honor!
Through my singing I tell you
Nothingwill stopus
We've got determination From race
To change the notion Of time
I see lots of people killing themselves
From hard working and walking and studying
Always beaten
And no reward Is at sight
I'm confident My people is not nuts
I am sure we'll get off This hole
Code of Honor Is ourvoice
Jail Community Thas us!
Code of Honor Is ourvoice
Our sound is Hip-Hop Rap is ourvoice!
PAVILION 8
The name is FW, MC from the Community.
Reality on the screen, Pavilion 8...
So, brothers, the picture starts now.
This is the real Carandiru.
This is our self-portrait.
Let 's go check Pavilion 8.
And see if all they say around is true.
Right on!
Attention, Jeison Andrade Silva, from cell 209...
come to the sound room on the double.
Answer me Father...
You're the only one Who can understand
Oh Lord, my God My Father
Listen to my prayer
Answer me Father
You're the only one Who can understand?
Attention, Francisco de Assis Marques.
You must report to the shop right now.
INCLUSION When inmates arrive from the...
police station or are transferred from another prison...
each one receives one of these. It 's the only one they'll get.
Upon arrival, you get a haircut and these trousers.
This is the house's style: Two front pockets, one on the back.
Khaki trousers.
PAVILION 2
CONFERENCE UPON ARRIVAL
We start this conference talking about two sure things.
First:
You are incarcerated.
You can't forget that.
Second:
One day you'll go out.
Don't forget that!
Today you are entering the penitentiary system.
Some are returning, but most of you are new comers.
And maybe you will agree with me.
Being imprisoned is awful!
Because once you are in here, gentlemen.
You will be watched round the clock.
I see you were given the manual:
The Inmate's Rights and Obligations.
It 's wrong, isn't it?
Because starting today, here...
there is no prisoner, inmate, con, condemned...
thief, bum, big boss, whatever...
The right denomination for you here...
is "inmate in reeducation"...
The manual stresses work, which is correct.
Says the Constitution:
Not just this state penitentiary system but other states' systems as well...
has the duty of providing work for you.
Some of you know the famous Remission of Sentence:
For each three days worked, one less in your sentence.
Is there work in here? There is.
In all pavilions? That 's right.
For everyone? No. That 's the bad side of it.
No one here's asked to be arrested.
I believe that none of you is enjoying being here.
You didn't want it, you don't like it.
It 's not good.
I'm sorry!
This is prison.
I won't be evil as to welcome you. Forget it!
Thank you, gentlemen, good afternoon.
You may leave, thank you.
GENERAL CONTROL
This is the log of the daily traffic in the jail.
For instance, this one is Pavilion 7.
All pavilions are here.
Pavilion 7, second floor...
There are 212 inmates.
Third floor, 24O, this is the present population.
257 on the fourth floor and 264 on the fifth.
Pavilion 7 total population, 973.
It was 995.
One came in yesterday...
and 23 left.
And this is the total of all pavilions...
2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
Plus 21 in the hospital and 57 in court hearings.
Total population, 7,O21.
My name is Reginaldo Peres...
I'm here to show you Pavilion 2's gym.
There's no gym anymore.
They had to shut it down.
But we recorded a few things...
Now I will show you what we've done.
Sport gives you strength, specially in jail, right?
This is leisure for the inmate...
it 's good for the mind.
He has something to do.
And he is used to come here at a certain time...
to take care of his body, his mind...
to cultivate other ideas.
I'm not saying he will go straight, that 's up to him.
But while he's here, at least...
you can see for yourself...
no one is smoking marijuana, doing nothing wrong.
Harder!
Let 's show some respect! This is technique, not tricks.
Save street fights for the street. This is about boxing.
Bring me the camera!
The 28th is the day of our great contest:
The winner takes the bets...
and a Playboy magazine. São Paulo soccer championship.
There's São Paulo vs Portuguesa on Saturday.
Corinthians vs União de Araras, Sunday.
Santos vs São Caetano, Saturday.
Corinthians vs União de Araras, what 's your guess?
Corinthians.
It 's 111 to remind us of the manslaughter at Pavilion 9...
It 's 111 chemical elements.
Exactly, 111 elements...
THE IRON TOMB
DEATH SPEAKS SOFTLY
SUPREME LAW
THE WOMEN'S POLITICAL DIMENSION
Mama throw away the books for me
In the future lwon't study anymore
The evil inside me Has grown wide
Feels like I'm knockin' on heaven's door
I know some streets lwalked upon
Won't hearthe sound Of my footsteps again
I've kept a magazine foryears
I know lwon't open it again
Every time I bid someone farewell
Might be The last time we meet
Silent doom Walks by my side
And I can't tell in which corner It will kiss me dead
knockin' on heaven's door...
The grub!
Grab the grub!
The grub!
My name's Adilson, I'm the prothodontist here.
I've been working here for two years.
I work a lot 'cause I'm the only one doing this here.
I live at Pavilion 5...
and I carry out my occupation to keep my mind busy...
and earn my living.
My name's Marco, and I've been here at Pavilion 7 for two years.
I work with technical design.
I charge R$ 15 for each photo I make.
That 's how I make my living.
Well, my name's Robson, I live at Pavilion 2.
With all the difficulties and obstacles I find on my way...
I was able to create this work.
Anyone can do it... you just have to use your head.
Forget bad things, think of your work and your family...
and you get where I did. Creating this Portuguese galleon.
Thanks God it will go out even before I do.
I am João Vicente...
I'm presenting the basic text...
about how we do the gluing and sewing of balls at Pavilion 5.
So I tried to create a script...
for the execution of the shooting job.
Nothing can set me apart From this love
Nothingwill take Jesus from me
All my grief is over
I'll keepwalking
With Jesus through the end
National championship, the thrill of soccer.
Things will get hot today forCruzeiro and Corinthians...
in this second and crucial game of the finals.
Cruzeiro and Corinthians live!
With this machine I'll get myself a girl
It is all lwant With my old ragged car
Walking is a pain Trying a cab is vain
This bus is so crowded The traffic is a jam
But I turn my radio on
Wildly going on With my old ragged car
- You're on? - Yeah.
You have her up there?
She's the best.
Where are the two girls fucking?
I want this one, look!
Let 's see that one in the corner in a close up.
It 's like that 'cause the cops tore them...
The cops tore them in a cell search...
Where's the girl from Osasco? I know her personally.
- I like hairy chicks. - Aren't they smellier?
- Who? - Hairy pussy.
Where's your favorite? Up a bit.
I'm zooming in on her.
You want chicks? There's lots here.
Lots of chicks all around!
Here's the toilet where we jerk off...
So many chicks out there...
and we only get to stare at these photos.
HOUSE OF DETENTION
PAVILION 4 HOSPITAL
Look at his cell, sir.
See how he is?
And the stench here!
For Gods sake...
I've been asking for 12 years to operate this hernia.
I was sent to the hospital, my kidney stopped working.
They put a probe that goes up to the kidney.
They were supposed to take it off 3 months later, but they didn't.
I was shot on the street...
and the hospital out there is torture, too.
I'm new here, all I have to say is.
This is the medicine they gave me. They said:
"You blow it all night long so your lungs will get used to it...
and you won't lose them."
My leg was all right, but when I was arrested...
for lack of assistance, it began rotting.
They thought they could deal with it here and I was sent over.
I had to wait 3 years for this surgery.
But it isn't good.
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WARD
We're down and out here, you see?
This is the very reality, down and out.
Things are upside down. That 's the truth.
I have no hopes.
I think it can only get worse.
Everybody is trying to make it better, but it tends to get worse.
This lack of attention that we see here...
contributes for a general dissatisfaction.
With four Dr. Drauzios here, the problem would be solved.
'Cause he's a physician, he's not afraid of touching sick guys.
He'll put his hands on to see what 's the problem.
Take one pill before going to bed, this will make you sleepy.
Let 's ask for two packages.
You'll take Cefalexine...
14 days, 56 pills.
Next!
ONLY 2O NAMES FOR APPOINTMENTS DO NOT INSIST!!!
This is ganglionar TB, it 's common in jails.
Usually, a HIV positive will develop it.
You're feverish, you wake up with your shirt all soaked up, right?
I changed shirts 3 times last night.
The sweat will start to vanish in one week.
But this here will take months to go away.
- It took months to grow, right? - Yeah, it did.
PAVILION 6
My name is Carlos Alberto Moreira.
I was sentenced for robbery.
Here I am one among too many.
Let me introduce myself, I'm Romualdo Barbosa da Silva...
and I got 8 years for armed robbery...
corruption of minors, carrying a gun...
and other felonies, for which I was acquitted.
I can engrave both nice and dark things.
Satan sculptures, dark thoughts...
evil pieces.
I prefer landscapes.
In all my life I didn't have the chance of knowing any.
And now that I'm going through all this pain...
I feel that I lost many good things out there.
I think that someday I'll be there.
Going by that place, those landscapes...
that come to my mind. That I see on the TV, in magazines.
I think nature is very important.
We wanna show the talent we have hidden inside.
We want to make progress not go backwards...
as we're doing now.
Since I was a kid, I had a gift for handicraft work.
I make wood engravings.
I also make soap sculptures.
Patience is crucial...
'cause if you're in a hurry, details won't come out.
This is my cell mate.
We're trying to develop something I've been doing for a while...
a drawing with the pen's tip.
But I think he should introduce himself.
My name is Adilson Martins Dias.
My record is 153-55O.
It 's been 3 years that I'm here...
for conspiring to murder.
I like to draw moments where I'd like to be.
These are my kids.
I try to insert myself there through the drawing.
I like drawing women.
I avoid drawing inspired by what I see in the prison.
We try to draw good things.
Here we use inspiration the other way around.
We draw on the walls.
When there's some celebration, some childs party.
We use paint, brush.
I'd like to leave a message for my children...
telling them that everything I did and I'm paying for in here...
I 'm not blaming anyone, I did it to try...
to give them a comfortable life.
But I didn't succeed.
For now.
My name is Salvatore, I'm from Italy.
The only thing that matters is leaving this place alive.
My name is Luis Walter, I am from Argentina.
Carandiru? I would define it...
as a"Hell's gate".
BERND, GERMANY This is chaos.
No foreigner knows exactly what are the rules...
who he should follow, what 's allowed and what isn't.
I'm from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa.
I arrived here...
four days ago.
I've been four days in Carandiru...
One thing surprises me:
The fact they put me directly in a penitentiary...
without...
a trial.
I don't know what 's going to happen with me here.
The first game was excellent in São Paulo.
The score forCorinthians was 2 x O initially, then a draw.
Corinthians heads for a strike, look how he goes...
He shoots the ball with all he gets. The referee marks a corner...
that benefits Corinthians.
There goes Ricardinho...
Only eight teams will stay in the National Championship.
TECHNICAL COMMISION FOR CLASSIFICATION
Excuse me.
Good afternoon.
- Name? - William Guimarães de Souza.
- Record? - 17O- 512.
- Pavilion? - 2.
- Charge? - 157 (Robbery).
- Sentence? - Eleven years and ten months.
Do you know when you stopped using diapers?
Ever had epilepsy? Had many nightmares?
Ever was under psychiatric, neurological...
or psychological treatment? Is there anyone chasing you?
Do you have important friends, such as Bill Clinton, Madonna?
Ever had any abnormal experiences?
Did you go to school? Do you have a job?
How did you get involved with drugs?
What was your relationship with your family while you were on drugs?
Why have you robbed?
What was the reason? Answer me.
What benefit do you want?
Semi-open regime.
- You may go. - Thank you, have a nice day.
"All requirements were accomplished...
however, in the subjective aspect...
our view is not favorable to the convicted felon.
Due to troubling traits shown by him:
He's psychologically immature...
has an inadequate opinion about his crime...
he only sees his own losses.
Based on article 112 from the LPE...
his plea is denied".
This is written here.
DENIED
The examiner arrives in the morning...
sits down there...
and the guys are afraid to talk to him...
because he is the person that holds our freedom.
If he says to the judge that the guy isn't apt, the guy stays.
He says the opposite, the guy is free.
But out of 2OO people only 3 will be approved!
It 's been proved, you can ask any judge, the papers will be there, ready.
If they'd let us go as easily as they put us in here...
if they'd follow article 112, of law 721O...
things wouldn't be this way here.
LUCIO CARVALHO GYM
Bimba was challenged By the weird nigger
The one that wore rags Whose name was Benedito
Bimba wouldn't believe This old Capoeira
This fight was nothing But a children's game
Soon the circle was there Right on the street
Bimba beat the man With a single "half moon kick"
When the man woke up Master Bimba said:
Get up, you bum The game is on!
I was a champion already, a body-builder.
I lived in California and when I came back...
I started participating in Ultimate Fighting events.
I had various masters: Fernando Yamazaki...
master Roberto Lage, master Ryan Gracie.
I started boxing with Helinho Santana, Éder Jofre, Sílvio Darovelli...
I made myself a reputation...
and now I'm a professional of Ultimate Fighting.
I'm preparing myself to go back when I leave the prison...
to be fit again...
and be World Champion of the Pride and the Ultimate Fighting.
Today is Thursday...
the day I'll have part of my freedom again after 18 months.
I'm too anxious, I couldn't sleep...
I kept thinking about everything that happened to me.
It seemed I was here for one day, I thought of people I met here...
the brothers that will stay here suffering, you understand?
THE QUICK LEAVE Is when on certain holidays...
the inmate gets a benefit for good behavior:
The privilege of visiting his mother, his wife...
his kids, his friends and enjoying freedom for a while.
But he must come back when he's told to. Usually 5, 6 days later.
Number 428!
Number 897!
Number 376!
You must keep this document with you.
It 's the authorization for you to leave.
You come back Monday, the 16th...
before 5 p.m.
- What 's your name? - Lúcio Antônio de Carvalho.
You're on the quick leave?
Who's escorting you?
You're escorting him?
Where's the escort for his quick leave?
MONDAY
It 's a great joy when you leave, but when you return...
you know that in here you're worth nothing...
you're just a number.
If you don't make an effort to behave...
you'll end your days in here.
I'm trying to show the judge, my lawyers, the D. A...
that I'm keeping my word. Mr. Waldemar?
So you're back! You're almost there.
The main goal of our show, Good Afternoon, Community...
is to give you a word of encouragement and hope.
You're invited, thas right...
you're our special guest...
for a moment of silence at 6 p. M...
when you can listen to ourtraditional"Ave Maria".
Bye and good evening. Bye bye.
You again?
- Lúcio Antônio de Carvalho. - Back from quick leave?
- Did you bring your papers? - Yes, sir.
TO MY BROTHER
CRIS, I LOVE YOU
TO MY ANGEL
A SECOND LETTER! MORE PEACEFUL!
GOD BE WITH YOU, POSTMAN
TO MY DEAR HUSBAND
I LOVE YOU
TO MY STRONG ALLY
HEY, PAVILION 2 POSTMAN, FIND ME THIS BROTHER. THANK YOU
PAVILION 9
lwanna see the capoeira
Today I saw Maculelê,capoeira
Capoeira is a game played In the land of São Salvador
A game played In the land of São Salvador
Hey, capoeira, wanna kill me?
Hey, capoeira, you play there and I play here
Champions!
We're champions!
LAGOA AND RODRIGO
I am Lagoa, this one here is my fellow Rodrigo.
We're from Pavilion 9...
and we're gonna show some of the reality of the jail.
That 's right. The jail works right...
for us to live as best as we can...
without causing too much trouble.
We're always trying to do good things...
so that we'll be able to rejoin society tomorrow.
Everything you are going to see is real...
everything we will show to you are real events, understand?
We're on the 4th floor to show you how the trade works in the jail.
Here there's no money, our currency here are cigarettes.
Each pack of this brand is worth R$ 1.
That 's its price out on the streets.
This other brand is R$ O.5O, its value out there.
This shirt is R$ 8, this one, R$ 1O.
Those jeans are R$ 3O, the sneakers, R$ 25.
When I got here...
I got involved with the brothers that owned this trade here.
So I help them.
This is our routine, our living.
Selling and helping the brothers.
We're on the fifth floor of Pavilion 9 to ask questions to a friend of ours.
What 's the responsibility of the person in charge of the floor?
Maintaining the peace.
Managing the disagreements. We try to settle things...
to avoid problems such as assault, blood, this kind of things.
We tell the guys what they're supposed to do, what they can't do...
the time cleaning is made, we tell them to avoid drugs...
The guy must learn. He's in jail...
the jail is his school.
Then the guy knows what he's gotta do, you see?
RAP SURVIVORS The bars won't stop ourthoughts
Survivors here There's over a thousand
They come and smash like a bullet in the head
Our Rap is good Tells about the hell
That is up here Rapcomes from the soul
An adrenaline blow
That tells the truth And is contagious
DLS rhyming
Now seriously There is no mystery
There are two ways here: Freedom or morgue
A sincere wise guy Looking eye in eye
Who doesn't ever feel a chill in his spine
I follow my path
Mercenaries take one life Mine can be next
From his corner The dumb scoundrel
- Commanded by someone - To watch overthe bums
With a gun he feels He owns the world
- Thinks he's iron made - His head is made of lead
GLOBAL EFFECT
A sick riot...
brings violence, but a wise riot...
brings us peace. Global Effect!
Carandiru The devil's house, man
Your life becomes Real hell
Blood flowing in the yard And you won't believe
Watch out, my friend This is a dead end
One strikes face to face The other from behind
With two knives in your hands You find you know too much
Gotta be smart
Do not hesitate 'Cause if you do
You won't get through
Carandiru The devil's house, man
Your life becomes Real hell
Carandiru The devil's house, man
Your life becomes Real hell
Carandiru The devil's house, man
Your life becomes Real hell
Now I'm telling you, brother
The rule here is Devil's law
Gotta be quick To stay alive
Among the bad guys And not be screwed
Your life here Is worth shit
You may vanish You may croak
Carandiru The devil's house, man
APRIL 1, 2OO2 END OF THE HOUSE OF DETENTION?
Your life becomes Real hell
Greetings to the guys in all neighborhoods.
Here goes an S.O.S. From Carandiru!
Hello from MC Gui to all the guys, too.
Regards to the guys that are out there.
I LOVE LIFE
I DATE DEATH
I LOVE LIFE I DATE DEATH
This part here is the engine from a tape recorder.
I attach it to a toothbrush handle...
I get a ball point pen...
put the tip of the lighter inside...
This wire is from a notebook...
and I fix the needle on it...
put this part from a pen...
and it 's ready to go.
Innocent blood
Shed on the cross
Powerful blood
Pious blood
From Jesus Christ
Innocent blood
Shed on the cross
Pure blood
Set me free from sin
It is Jesus' blood
Psalm 142, verse 7:
"Take my soul from prison!
Free my soul from prison"! Amen!
PAVILION 7
I know how painful it is To get all beaten up
GOD ASSEMBLY But you should go ahead
God will give you strength
With God you will go up to the end
No matter the storm on this sea
God Himself assures
If the night darkness gets in the way
He will be our light
And victory is ours
Get ready to fall apart, door 'cause God will break all doors.
The Lord is speaking to you this morning.
He said: I will tear apart... the iron locks!
Glory!
It 's the prayer for God to listen to the prisoner's wailing.
Raise your hands!
It doesn't matter if you're on your knees...
God! This brother's process, wherever you are...
Lord! Touch them...
Touch with your light the judge, the D. A!
This day will be recorded in Your book, my God!
Only You can settle these things for us!
You can do the impossible, Lord.
We beg you, in the name of Christ!
Today I am testing God.
Maybe this is our last day in this place.
I am not an apologist of crime...
but before the creation of the PCC...
the inmates were suffering...
because there were rival gangs...
there was a lot of extortion...
rape...
banal deaths.
But when I knew the PCC back in 1988...
as a minister I began watching how they worked.
And things changed. Today you don't have to buy a cell to live in.
There's no more rape.
No more banal murders.
There was a change...
and they're my friends, I like many of them.
I know a few members and like them...
I think they're doing good things.
They don't bother me, they even help with my work.
We had a ceremony with a thousand people...
with their support.
So, it may be necessary to have a party here.
We have the PCC, Prime Command of the Capital...
and with their riot...
I believe they had the attention focused on the penitentiary...
this depot of human beings...
and now they want to deactivate it. Why? Because someone said:
Look, we're dying here and you don't release us.
People like me: I'm here for 11 years. My sentence was 2O.
Four years ago I could have got my parole...
It 's so unfair, someone should say:
We're rotting in here, take us out.
And maybe this is why the PCC came along.
"Inmates in reeducation"from this penal establishment:
The teaching staff...
will call you at the school in your pavilion.
The rich ones don't believe us.
Les show them that we are not some kind of joke.
Studying is nice!
Thus says the Bible.
There's no parole in Gods trial.
Remember:
NEXT VISITING DAY: SATURDAY. RESPECT THE VISITORS!
Watch out for the water!
Now you will see the cleaning...
which is done the day prior to the visit day.
CLEANING UP We ask support from the society...
'cause we're human beings. We work, we are given parole...
and everything the press says about us is a bunch of lies!
We're showing reality here. We're human beings, workers.
We fulfill our duties.
We hope the law will pay attention, we're in a terrible situation.
- It 's heavy! - Go for it, bro!
Watch out!
Here comes the cleaning crew!
Watch out for the water!
- It 's over! - Done!
I appreciate it, brother. Cool!
Dressed in black the lady of the night Brings mystery along
With golden earrings, silver necklace She pledges
If you want to you can go Beg forwhateveryou wish
But beware, my friend She's beautiful,she's a woman
PRIEST ALEX Wake up, demons!
Come and see A bottomless cauldron boil
Is midnight The graveyard trembles
Tombs crack open Dead men moan
Throw it behind you and make a wish.
Ask for whatever you need.
Good night, old man, good night, you from Earth.
Good night, spirit of the night.
Leaving your ways open, you will find prosperity.
I bid you good night.
Go away, Exu Don't stop by the road
Take away all the evil deeds
Wait! There's no light here.
- Let 's go there. - Come on.
- They're stepping over your feet. - Look!
They're not afraid of the light, no, sir!
Light them.
- Get closer to them, Gustavo. - There's one there. Lots of them!
Holy fuck!
Let 's go there... Wait. Look, there...
Let me do it, I can shoot.
That one is huge!
- You see it? - Course I do!
- Get closer. - Easy.
- Hey, Cesar! - Hi, Ceará!
Why did you stay there, because of that?
The brother told me not to cross his way...
Fuck!
My transfer to that prison is about to come.
I'm at their disposal.
Hey, Danilo? Got some puff for us?
No, nothing at all.
The one I had was from the guy that left today.
- Gotcha. - Tell Rivelino that I appreciated it.
VISITING DAY
HANDBAG STORAGE - SHOE RENTAL
I have offended Jesus
lwasn't Christianized
By the Lord who died On the cross for me
Today is visiting day, a special day for us.
You get to see your wife, your kids, if you have them.
This is where we walk during the week...
and on visiting days we use it...
to keep strolling with the family.
We're too many in here, too little room.
We pile up.
But today it is like a playground.
This is the reverse side of the coin, the visiting day.
I've been here for sixyears.
My job is photographing the inmates and theirvisitors.
I've already taken pictures from everybody here.
Is a great responsibility...
'cause this is a highly dangerous place.
Here, if you don't behave, you're in trouble.
A word misinterpreted can cost your life.
There are many sad stories, I don't wanna talk about them.
I took his picture hours before he was killed.
And then lwas informed...
that he was gone.
Is really bad for me, because...
I take their pictures when they're alive, then I have to...
take their pictures when they're dead. Is hard.
I took a picture of him with his family and soon afterthat...
he was... stabbed.
Is really hard for me.
But there's a code of honor: You pay your mistakes with your life.
PAVILION 5
This is the Street of Flowers.
This name is because there used to be only girls on this side.
But now there are men and gays, too...
but the name of the street was kept.
Street of Flowers!
There were times when they lived at Pavilion 9,8...
but due to the many fights...
they put us only here, at Pavilion 5.
Up to cell 12-I, it 's only homosexuals...
Let 's go to Mirande's...
I arrived with long hair...
make up, couldn't even pretend I wasn't what I am.
The fact is that, queer like us, can do nothing.
We must keep quiet.
Some are married, others are single, some are real whores.
Not me, I don't do that. I do laundry.
But my girl friends do that.
Some charge R$ 5, lwon't say forwhat, some charge R$ 1O.
When they pay me...
I make R$ 3O, R$ 4O...
otherwise, we get to make about R$ 1O a week.
It isn't enough in here.
God help me if I need some oil,butter...
'cause what our families bring won't last a whole month.
They say that jail is for reeducation.
Bullshit. It 's the other way around.
People here will hate the law even more for being so slow.
IF GOD IS AT OUR SIDE, WHO'S AGAINST US?
There it is, the nest.
You only have to pull the blanket.
Got it? The light is kept on, you see?
It 's the wire...
It will heat in here.
And then... it turns into booze.
Rice, yeast, sugar. Take a look.
To replace the rice you can use orange or papaya skin.
It gets strong, tastes even better.
Now you see it 's yellow, right?
But at the end of the process it gets completely white.
BOOTLEGGING "CRAZY MARY" They do this in all pavilions.
- Tell us how you do it. - It will start boiling now.
When it boils it can't be without water.
The water is for refrigeration.
It evaporates through here to become liquid again.
Without water it 's only steam.
No booze.
We can't lose a drop. This is gold.
This is like a golden drop, got it?
Booze in jail is expensive, is misdemeanor...
it depends on the jail level.
If you're caught, you're done. So it 's expensive because of the risk.
You got to keep it for several days.
It isn't producing a lot of booze.
But we go ahead, the situation is pretty bad.
So the price will be up, right?
But if you take a bottle and say "I've got some fire water!"...
you sell it all in 2O minutes.
I am a barber, but during the weekend...
I take the "ber" from the sign, then it 's "bar".
When the visitors come to see their sons...
first they come to see me.
At the first sip they see it 's good stuff!
There's the whole thing.
A bottle like that for this small quantity.
I usually get a full bottle from that one.
The booze production isn't quite good today.
- You weren't followed, were you? - No, we lost them.
The problem are the cops, see?
To be punished after you're old is a mess.
To be punished after 15 years for some booze? No way.
They don't mess with us, we don't mess with them.
- That official is right there. - Lf he's out there, it 's all right.
Don't let him in. Officials are not allowed.
Pot is crucial...
You smoke too?
Without marijuana people get nuts.
- Sit down and give me a hand, Carlão. - Don't say my name!
- How much is it? - R$ 1.
The total here is 2O grams of marijuana.
It will be worth R$ 5O, minimum.
It will be over in a few minutes.
- You need this in jail or... - You lose control.
It 's our hobby here, soccer and pot.
And things are smooth.
Here you're not shooting what it looks like...
and you'll present as if it was real. You're shooting the real thing.
For society this is a bad thing...
but...
for us, inmates...
we find our peace in dope, in marijuana.
If we're dealing with drugs, no one is allowed here.
We put a guy watching at the door.
If someone comes in, is taking a chance.
The guy at the door must say to the official...
"Beat it or will be sorry."
I wonder if this would be happening if we got attention from the State.
Wouldn't we be working, studying, whatever?
But I think this is what they want.
They don't want us to be able to challenge their crooked ways.
If we had an open mind, more information...
we'd give them a hard time.
If there's no job for someone who's real straight...
will there be for us?
2O...
...25... - Give me one.
25...
45...
5O, 53...
54 with the one we sold...
and there's a big joint left for the owner of this cell.
We wouldn't come to his cell for nothing, right?
The scene of the madman. Beautiful...
Yes, Jamaica!
Burn it all!
I'm gonna be on television!
It 's gonna be aired on Globo TV.
Show them how to do it.
Look at the expert!
This is crack.
I don't use it, but...
the guys get high...
This will turn into a stone, or was it a stone?
It 's a smashed stone.
And they put it in the pipe.
This is the scrapes of the devil's shin.
The junkies will sell their mothers for it.
Worth R$ 1.
With 5 grams you make some... 12O, 13O rolls.
- How long to sell it? - This goes real quick.
I sell it then I charge during the weekend.
It 's like selling water in the desert.
Most of the fights here are due to drug debts.
This demands responsibility.
Not everyone can afford it in here. You understand?
This is our daily weapon.
On the street we carry guns, but here we can't get them...
so we carry two knives, this is a regular thing here.
But if we are caught with these babies...
we are punished.
This place is made of iron and stone.
So it 's easy to get the iron.
We take it from the stairs, doors, wherever we see a piece of iron.
We must, for this is our life.
It 's like a friend.
No one will value my life... so I value it.
These two pointy iron pieces, we call them knife.
These two pieces elaborated like this...
two-edged...
we call them jail knife.
It 's a negative thing...
these two artifacts.
But we don't allow our minds to think negatively.
It 's a silent cry.
If I'm not willing to talk...
it talks, it has a mouth. It speaks up.
SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE Jesus
Come and set free The incarcerated
Break all the chains Of the old oppression
Jesus
Come and set free The incarcerated
Break all the chains Of the old oppression
Lord, we are here for You have summoned us.
We are here to fulfill your wish. Amen.
PUNISHMENT CELLS
Now we have here 18 cells with an average of 6 inmates per cell...
usually punished for breaking any rule.
If you look inside these cells...
there's no soap, no toilet paper, no toothpaste.
Some don't have drinkingwater...
orwaterto flush.
I don't blame the official, is his job...
but the State is neglecting us.
You know we have 14 systems...
7 cultural systems and 7 material ones.
Since we don't have a Bible for each of you...
we bring the leaflet...
from the Sunday mass...
with the readings from the Bible and also...
some Christian guidance.
SAFETY CELLS I'll hand you the camera.
You show and say whatever you want. It 's rolling.
Speak slowly, there's no hurry.
- How does it open? - It opens here...
attention with the cable.
Rolling!
Give me the mike.
This is where we live.
Locked 24 hours a day.
We go into the sun only 2 hours, Saturdays.
We've been waiting for almost 5 months to get out of here.
Our condition here is worse than living as animals.
It 's terrible, life is cruel here.
The fact is, we all have to leave this place...
as soon as possible, urgently.
In short, what we have to say...
is that if the Human Rights people are seeing these images...
for Gods sake, do something for us!
We're locked like animals.
This is hell in the big city, got it?
In a tiny cell, there are 14 brothers.
We can't even sleep. We take turns...
you can't clean yourself, there's no water, no tap...
Look at this: All rotten.
You get all kind of diseases from this.
We really want to be transferred.
Then it 's easier to go to a better prison...
here you get nowhere.
This is the situation of the inmates of Carandiru.
This is the hammock where they sleep.
They're about to fall, They may break a bone.
- Appreciate it, my man. - Really do.
Paulo, I chose the theme...
"A day of spiritual guidance"...
because I'd be able to show various parts of the jail.
Thanks God the Catholic chapel is like a postcard...
for me it 's a corner from heaven...
where I spend most part of my time, with God.
But if I'd stayed here only...
I'd be a coward...
for not showing the reality of those fellows there...
At a given moment, in the cells of the fourth floor...
I even shed some tears. Even having had a hard life in here...
sleeping on the floor, even with such a hard heart...
I really don't have the guts to watch all that.
Is betterto shoot a man in the head.
Time goes by In between the bars
Slowly forever Time goes by
I feel relieved When the night comes
Another day is gone It will be missed
I sure wish That time could run
But I also wish That time could stop still
When looking at the mirror lwish I could find
That young man that once Entered this dungeon
That young man That time wouldn't spare
I was young, full of life
Dreamed of adventures Violent excitement
Fast cars Shots, getaways
The way you see in the movies I faced death
I was given the sacrament But I recovered
In the House of Detention
Again I couldn't see How valuable freedom is
My old friends welcomed me As a hero
They didn't know how it hurts 3O years doing time
Time is ruthless My youth is gone
Now I feel deep inside The same a bard does
When singing to his lover Not to open her window
Pretending she's not listening
I'm a dreamer too I dream of the day
I will recover freedom Even if it 's late
Peace, Justice, Freedom Peace
What I have to say Is really serious
My life Was a misery
I had no luck with Justice No luck with the police
So lwill tell you Right from the beginning
What happened then lwent out for a crime
lwas arrested by the men lwas a small kid
A minor I had a life of crime
Got to know the bad guys Was sent to the reformatory
lwas downtown And was arrested
When lwas 1O years old But while lwas there
I learned a lot And lwill never forget
How much I suffered Inside those walls
Guards and rebellions
Riot, slaughter I live in a rotten world!
Inside those walls Guards and rebellions
Riot, slaughter I live in a rotten world!
- Rotten world! - Rotten world!
Peace, Justice, Freedom...
Good evening, my name is Joel...
we're here at the Detention House doing a pioneer work...
Hold it! It 's rolling.
- It 's rolling? - I guess.
- Here is the sound... - It 's okay.
Good evening, my name is Joel...
my record is number 169-749. I'm here with my buddy Marcos...
trying to show to you something about this place.
Especially the night, that most people don't know.
THE NIGHT OF AN INMATE Is hard with words.
Maybe it works with image, right?
I don't know if I'll make it right. As you can see I'm an amateur.
Unfortunately, I'm a convict who's struggling...
We're trying to show somewhat what we see from our cell.
There's the damn subway. It 's been some time I don't take it.
I guess that we all here...
dream of taking the subway to go home.
Maybe in the near future, if God helps us.
There you see Paulista Avenue, I'll zoom...
I celebrated various victories of my team there.
Lots...
We have a peculiar way of communication here.
My friend Toco is trying to communicate...
with two girls across the street.
They live in a boarding house.
- Go ahead, Toco. - Hey, Lucimar!
There's a code, we make signs...
one to the other, she understands.
It 's a hobby.
- You do it every day, don't you? - Sure.
And note that we're at Pavilion 7, third floor...
shooting at the window.
A hug.
- These are the signs. - How do you say "I love you"?
- I draw a heart. - Cool.
Waiting for the cell check?
Gotta wait for it.
'Cause they have to count.
Time is slow here.
The clock goes slowly.
- You're not going to record it, are you? - Of course I am!
Also, the tragic story of a woman who lost her father...
A show for the low class.
It 's four!
This is the guy that does the night count.
He goes cell by cell counting to make sure we're all here.
Man, that 's tough... Firecrackers!
Nice! Long time I don't see this.
We see that on New Year's Eve, but try not to see.
'Cause it 's sad, people out there enjoying the holidays...
and we're locked in here.
Holy shit!
That 's crazy!
What 's up, Cabelo? I saw some nice firecrackers, man.
They're really incredible, brother.
Look at that! Motherfucker!
I miss home, my family...
I miss freedom...
pain in the heart, sadness...
Let 's show Banespa Bank building, the symbol of capitalism.
Nice old Banespa...
A Mall, for the rich.
We don't have access to those things.
Some of us were caught because we wanted those things, but...
I guess we didn't succeed.
No mall, no slum, only jail.
Oh my God.
Homesick, Cabelo?
Yeah, maybe I can show something of my past.
You have nice memories from those photos.
Oh yes... From Rio de Janeiro...
Can you show us?
Well, I'll try to show some photos from my past...
Nice memories from happy times...
but I guess it didn't pay to have some comfort...
and now I'm miserable here.
This is the second photo, me and my brother in Rio...
enjoying a nice place...
Third photo: Me and my partner's daughter...
a partner in crime...
I was at Copacabana beach, under the sun...
thinking I was happy then, things were good.
Now I am in this place.
My fourth photo:
I'm near home, with my sister...
and a friend, having a beer.
I had good thoughts then, nice goals...
but I was on the run.
This was taken in Guarujá...
a bunch of kids, myself. I was on a quick leave...
but I decided to evade and go back to crime.
This was the first time I saw my daughter.
I hope I can...
show her how miserable I was when she was little...
but also how I grew up in this place.
This one, as you can see...
is just a landscape.
For many it means nothing...
I hope I'll be able to see this place again...
and live other unforgettable moments.
I just got this letter.
They're telling me stories...
trying to help me...
so I will only have positive thoughts...
and will struggle for a better life.
I got this letter and photos today...
it 's dated some days ago...
and bears an address which I hope won't be mine for long.
Sometimes I don't have words to express what I think.
I hope that all of you...
watching this now...
take a minute to stop and think how would it be...
if you were spending 5 years of your life...
far from your family, far from everybody...
So, Alemão, what time is it?
11:3O p.m. Let the guys rest a bit.
Let 's see if we can wake up at 5...
to show how the guys prepare themselves for a new day at Carandiru.
It 's 5 in the morning.
I just woke up, so did Alemão.
Let 's see if we can show you...
the first meal.
In the morning, they give us a piece of bread and milk.
I'm helping my brother with the coffee...
I prepared the oven...
put the water...
I'm sleepy, not fully awake yet.
Let 's see what time they give us breakfast.
I don't know if you can see it, but there you have Alemão...
in front of the bars... trying to see the day break.
It 's a bit dark, but soon we'll show...
the day breaking at Carandiru.
Another day grieving, locked, another lost day in life.
Maybe someone will get his freedom today...
his release...
but for most of us, that 's only a dream.
For now, our reality is made out of steel...
and dreams.
6:O5, they're a bit late.
3 pieces of bread... 1 for each of us...
with some butter.
I'm improvising a bit...
shooting from the outside...
If people took a moment to look...
and think, maybe they could forgive us.
'Cause it isn't easy this life.
Too sad, too Ionely...
there's despair, anguish...
but there's hope too.
Now we will show a trick we have...
for a better visualization.
The famous "campana"...
which is nothing but a mirror.
This is how we can see...
what the bars prevent us from seeing.
That 's the watch dog.
Waiting for the next shift.
Another... hungry cop.
Another example of efficiency...
Sleep tight, baby.
Look that drunk son of a bitch.
Yeah, this is it.
We want to show you how these guys treat us.
- You're getting it? - Of course.
- Show them insulting us. - I'm showing.
Insulting our families.
You are crazy... You are crazy!
And finally...
the night turns into day at the House of Detention.
There you see the sun on the wall.
And we're preparing for a new day.
Some will have good news, others, bad news.
Unfortunately...
it 's everybody's life...
mainly for the person that is locked...
at the House of Detention in São Paulo...
the largest penitentiary in Latin America.
They're unlocking... What 's the time?
- 8:1O... - Cool!
FORMER SUPERVISOR The House of Detention is the end...
PAVILIONS 7 AND 9 (2OO1-2OO2) Of the road for any warden.
This is extremely hard to manage.
Unfortunately, the government allowed it to deteriorate.
And it became a warehouse of prisoners.
It 's a minefield...
you must watch where you're stepping...
you must read everything you sign...
you must be really aware of what you're doing.
FORMER SUPERVISOR It 's been said that PCC controls...
PAVILIONS 2, 5, 8 (2OOO-2OO2) The prison. Today...
there are two pavilions locked and being searched.
They're doing a general inspection...
with no help from the Military Police...
only our security agents, and they're but a few.
The whole day the two pavilions will be closed.
The prisoners there won't be allowed to the yard.
And there's the search.
This wouldn't happen if the gangs were in control.
FORMER SUPERVISOR The PCC is a gang similar...
PAVILION 6 (2OO1-2OO2) To those in Rio de Janeiro.
The PCC became like the many gangs in Rio, Red Command, Youth Command.
It 's the same in São Paulo, there're many, CDL, CRBC...
So they got together...
a group of people joined in the crime. They got organized.
FORMER WARDEN (1996-1999) There never was a solution.
If you say the system is supposed to recuperate men...
I'd say this is utopia.
Those who say that don't know prisons.
FORMER PENITENTIARY How... do you fight the crime?
SYSTEM SECRETARY (1995-1998) With prison? No, not prison.
But then, what?
This is debated since ancient times.
And the civilization couldn't get an answer yet.
Jail won't rehabilitate...
but it fulfils its role:
Keep the guy away. Nobody says that.
Jail performs its role...
of segregating the prisoner from society.
As for his rehabilitation, it also depends on whether society...
will accept this prisoner or not.
FORMER WARDEN (198O-1986) I feel sad about the system.
I look back and I see I struggled for nothing.
I felt like someone trying to empty the ocean with a spoon.
I spent 4O years like that...
and the level of ocean remains the same. No, it 's worse.
CURRENT PENITENTIARY SYSTEM There are 7OO new prisoners...
SECRETARY GENERAL (SINCE 1999) In São Paulo, every month.
This means a new penitentiary for 7OO men every month...
12 per year and so on.
We must find a way to stop this.
Our great challenge...
is the situation we are currently experiencing.
The social economic reality: The injustice. This is our great challenge.
Serious injustice.
Either we correct this situation or violence will increase.
CURRENT GOVERNOR In the last 1OO years...
São Paulo has created 18,OOO vacancies in penitentiaries.
And these last 6 years...
under our Party...
we reached now...
25,666 vacancies...
with these 216 of the two wings...
of the new prison here at Chácara do Belém.
And up to the end of next year...
there'll be a total of 46,358 vacancies.
This is a record number not only in Brazil...
but maybe in the whole world...
for such a great effort in a short period of time.
Obviously we'd rather be here...
opening a new school...
opening a hospital...
but we're opening a prison...
May God look upon us...
giving us light for our mission.
Maybe we won't need jails anymore...
no more prisons.
In the name of the Father, The Son, the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Total silence Pavilion 8
Who am I? The son of torment
A street boy A delinquent, a crook
A boy just like you But there's one difference
Your family is strong Not as strong as death
You don't want to avoid it Taking the boy off the street
And giving him a home
Before he gets a gun And comes and kill you
The headlines will be big On the newspapers
The man died in vain On an attempted robbery
The man was buried The boy was handcuffed
They sent him to jail It seems he is all right
Beware, cop The crime is coming back
Original!
Peace, Justice, Freedom
Here am I again
Always original!
Try and understand me Look at my new shoes
My nice pants And my new way of life
I'm so attractive But much more dangerous
I learned to shut up And start it all over
What lwant
lwill get
What lwant
lwill get
Forwhen lwant They allwant
And ask for more Once again
lwas afraid you were afraid
Of what I do
lwas afraid Of having to go early to bed
To a bed I don't like Only'cause you said so
What lwant
lwill get
What lwant
lwill get
Forwhen lwant They allwant
And ask for more Once again
You're strong But I am so charming
In my shining pants My boots, my hat
I'm in no hurry I'm patient
Is down there in the corner Where lwill get you
What lwant
lwill get
What lwant
lwill get
Forwhen lwant They allwant
And ask for more
Once again
You're strong You do whateveryou want
But you're frightened by my attitude I can see
And this is what Made me see
Wonderful, I learned that I'm strongerthan you
What lwant
lwill get
What lwant
lwill get
Forwhen lwant They allwant
And ask for more
THIS PICTURE WAS MADE BY A CREW WICH
INCLUDED PROFESSIONALS OF THE FIELD
AND INMATES OF THE HOUSE OF DETENTION IN SÃO PAULO
AS A RESULT OF A VIDEO SEMINAR
THAT TOOK PLACE IN THAT INSTITUTION.