Elite Squad: The Enemy Within
Director: José Padilha Producers: José Padilha, Marcos Prado, Wagner Moura, Bráulio Mantovani Screenplay: José Padilha, Bráulio Mantovani Cinematographer: Lula Carvalho Editor: Daniel Rezende Music: Pedro Bromfman Principal Cast: Wagner Moura, Irandhir Santos, André Ramiro, Pedro Van-Held, Maria Ribeiro
Breaking all box office records in Brazil, Tropa de elite 2 is the sequel to the highly successful Tropa de elite (2007), though it is by no means necessary to have seen the first film to be gripped by this hard-hitting, realistic portrayal of corruption and violence in Rio de Janeiro. This time round, Padilha tackles the touchy subject of the militias created to protect Rio de Janeiro’s favelas. Constituted mainly of former cops and military men with shady ties to local politicians and judges, these militias tend to escalate the drug-related violence instead of mitigating it.
A movie that is as intense as it gets, without laying it on too thickly. A smart, brutal, beautiful tour de force, a brilliant showcase of Brazilian cinema and an action-packed crime adventure. Furious Cinema
Recorde de bilheterias no Brasil, Tropa de elite 2 é a seqüência do aclamado Tropa de Elite (2007), não sendo necessário, porém, haver visto o primeiro filme para ter os sentidos completamente dominados pelo retrato cru e verossímil da corrupção e da violência no Rio de Janeiro. Desta vez, Padilha aborda o delicado assunto das milícias criadas para proteger as favelas da cidade. Constituídas principalmente por ex-policiais e ex-militares ligados à políticos e juízes poderosos, essas milícias acabam por aumentar a violência em torno do tráfico ao invés de atenuá-la.
José Padilha was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1967. His first documentary, Bus 174, won numerous awards at international festivals. Tropa de Elite won a Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and Tropa de Elite 2 has already won 22 awards including Best Director at the Havana Film Festival.