Pixote: a Lei do Mais Fraco is a 1980 Brazilian crime drama film directed by Héctor Babenco. The screenplay was written by Babenco and Jorge Durán, based on the book A Infância dos Mortos (The Childhood of the Dead Ones) by José Louzeiro. The film is a docudrama account of Brazil's lower-class youth's exposure to organized crime and police corruption.
The plot revolves around Pixote, a young boy who is used as a child criminal in muggings and drug transport. The film features Fernando Ramos da Silva as Pixote and Marília Pêra as Sueli. Pixote tries to gain comfort from Sueli, treating her as a mother figure by sucking on her breast, but she rejects him out of disgust. He leaves and walks down a railway line, gun in hand, disappearing in the distance.
Pixote was released toward the end of the period of military dictatorship in Brazil, which lasted from 1964 to 1985. This was a time of harsh repression, censorship, and human rights violations in Brazil.
The film has received critical acclaim for its neo-realist acting and direction of the drama. The New York Times film critic, Vincent Canby, wrote, "[Pixote] is a finely made, uncompromisingly grim movie about the street boys of São Paulo. It is also a film that is so relentlessly honest that it is difficult to watch".
Watch For Free
If video doesn't play in browser, try another one. The videos work with Opera, Firefox, Chrome, and Edge. Some films take a bit to load so be patient.
Cast
- Fernando Ramos da Silva as Pixote
- Jorge Julião as Lilica
- Gilberto Moura as Dito
- Edilson Lino as Chico
- Zenildo Oliveira Santos as Fumaça
- Claudio Bernardo as Garatao
- Israel Feres David as Roberto Pie de Plata
- Jose Nilson Martin dos Santos as Diego
In addition, Marília Pêra played the role of Sueli, a woman who tries to help Pixote but ultimately rejects him. Héctor Babenco, the director of the film, also appears in the documentary Pixote, in memoriam (2007).
Director: Hector Babenco
Writer: Hector Babenco, Jorge Durán, Jose Louzeiro
Box Office Gross: No information
Distributor: Unifilms, Facets
Genre: Drama
Release Date (Theaters): May 5, 1981