This year from April 12-22nd, Filmfest DC brought over 80 international films to the capitol. In its 26th year, the festival put together an engaging 10-day event with 3 special series: The Lighter Side, a focus on International Comedies, Justice Matters, a collection of films about social justice, and Caribbean Journeys, featuring new films from Jamaica, Cuba, Trinidad, the Dominican Republic, and more.
In the Action/Adventure category, the number one must-see is Elite Squad: The Enemy Within.
Elite Squad: The Enemy Within
José Padilha, Brazil, 2010, 115 minutes, color
Following the success of the 2007 film Elite Squad, its 2010 sequel Elite Squad: The Enemy Within further cements director José Padilha’s prowess for gritty action films, becoming Brazil’s highest grossing film of all time.
The film centers around former police captain Nascimento, who has just recently been promoted to Lt. Colonel in the Rio de Janeiro security force. After a prison riot at the high-security penitentiary Bangu 1, Nascimento and his partner are found guilty for killing prisoners during the rebellion. Instead of being punished for his actions however, Nascimento is granted a pardon due to his popularity with the people and joins the governor as his partner in the intelligence area of the Secretary of Security. Nascimento becomes further entrenched in the political mayhem as his ex-wife’s new husband becomes the State Representative, and Nascimento himself spends the next few years chasing down the drug dealers in the city’s slums. The turmoil only continues when his son begins to strain their relationship and even more so when Nascimento discovers the police corruption created in the absence of the former drug lords and the crooked military force acting through support from the governor.
A dramatically shot film, Elite Squad: The Enemy Within is a fast paced action movie that has received excellent reviews and has won 22 different awards and has collected 10 nominations from international film critics. Juxtaposing the streets of Rio de Janeiro with the opulent lifestyle of Nascimento’s new life in a position of power, this film is one of both complex lies and terrifying truths.
Other Must-Sees:
War of the Arrows
Kim Han-min, South Korea, 2011, 123 minutes, color
Let the Bullets Fly
Wen Jiang, China, 2010, 132 minutes, color
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FilmFest DC Movie Review: Action and Adventure Category
April 27, 2012
This year from April 12-22nd, Filmfest DC brought over 80 international films to the capitol. In its 26th year, the festival put together an engaging 10-day event with 3 special series: The Lighter Side, a focus on International Comedies, Justice Matters, a collection of films about social justice, and Caribbean Journeys, featuring new films from Jamaica, Cuba, Trinidad, the Dominican Republic, and more.
In the Action/Adventure category, the number one must-see is Elite Squad: The Enemy Within.
Elite Squad: The Enemy Within
José Padilha, Brazil, 2010, 115 minutes, color
Following the success of the 2007 film Elite Squad, its 2010 sequel Elite Squad: The Enemy Within further cements director José Padilha’s prowess for gritty action films, becoming Brazil’s highest grossing film of all time.
The film centers around former police captain Nascimento, who has just recently been promoted to Lt. Colonel in the Rio de Janeiro security force. After a prison riot at the high-security penitentiary Bangu 1, Nascimento and his partner are found guilty for killing prisoners during the rebellion. Instead of being punished for his actions however, Nascimento is granted a pardon due to his popularity with the people and joins the governor as his partner in the intelligence area of the Secretary of Security. Nascimento becomes further entrenched in the political mayhem as his ex-wife’s new husband becomes the State Representative, and Nascimento himself spends the next few years chasing down the drug dealers in the city’s slums. The turmoil only continues when his son begins to strain their relationship and even more so when Nascimento discovers the police corruption created in the absence of the former drug lords and the crooked military force acting through support from the governor.
A dramatically shot film, Elite Squad: The Enemy Within is a fast paced action movie that has received excellent reviews and has won 22 different awards and has collected 10 nominations from international film critics. Juxtaposing the streets of Rio de Janeiro with the opulent lifestyle of Nascimento’s new life in a position of power, this film is one of both complex lies and terrifying truths.
Other Must-Sees:
War of the Arrows
Kim Han-min, South Korea, 2011, 123 minutes, color
Let the Bullets Fly
Wen Jiang, China, 2010, 132 minutes, color
