News from a Private War

An exemplary documentary on the forces at play in the drug battles of Rio's favelas. If it bears some resemblance to the later City of God that may because João Moreira Salles is the brother of Walter, one of the co-producers of City of God, while Kátia Lund co-directed that film too. Whatever, this uses sharp social analysis, and a dynamic shooting and editing style, to compare and contrast the attitudes and activities of the dealers, the often corrupt cops, the government and the locals. The impression of young lives at risk is distressingly strong.