'Carandiru': A Collection of Raw and Uncompromising Stories From Behind the Walls of Latin America's Largest Prison

Carandiru (2003) is a raw and uncompromising Brazilian drama depicting life inside São Paulo's notorious Carandiru Penitentiary, based on the experiences and observations of Dr. Drauzio Varella. As a physician who volunteered at Carandiru in the 1990's, Varella chronicles the lives of several disparate prisoners and the hardships they endured within one of Latin America's most violent and dangerous prison systems.

Dr. Varella (Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos) serves as a central figure in the narrative, providing medical care while observing the often brutal realities of prison life. Through his eyes we witness the stories of inmates like Lady Di (Rodrigo Santoro), a transvestite who finds love and acceptance within the prison walls; Deusdete (Caio Blat), a man struggling with his faith and violent past; and Ezequiel (Lázaro Ramos), a young man caught in the crossfire of gang rivalries. The film depicts the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, the constant threat of violence and the complex social dynamics that govern the prison—culminating in the infamous 1992 massacre that saw over 100 prisoners killed by military police.

Based on the novel-memoir "Estação Carandiru" by Varella and directed by Héctor Babenco (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Pixote), Carandiru is a stark glimpse into the lives of those incarcerated—and the systemic failures that contribute to their plight. Varella and Babenco deliver a potent mixture of violence, tragedy and fleeting moments of humanity to this indelible recapitulation of historic catastrophe. Acclaimed for its realism and storytelling, Carandiru remains one of Brazil’s most impactful dramas, often heralded as a milestone in modern international cinema.

---

Watch the trailer: