Cidade de Deus
I’m writing this several months after I saw this movie, but I can still tell you that this is one of the most powerful and simply one of the best movies that I have ever seen. Watch this movie. The acting, even though many of the main characters are played by inexperienced actors (many of whom grew up in these same slums) are outstanding, the pacing is superb, and the story is both engrossing in its power and repelling in its substance.
Factoid: I saw Brazilian singer Seu Jorge’s first two movies within days of each other (the other is The Life Aquatic).