Chronically Unfeasible

[bigguyinpasadena]

What an amazing film!Much more moving and up to date than City Of God.

It shows many aspects of brazillian life(including gay stuff)and the constant class struggle in many different sections of Brazil.

And it added to my reluctance to go to Rio.

[Guest zipperzone]

>And it added to my reluctance to go to Rio.

 

Don't understand - why do you have reluctance to go to Rio and why would this add to it?

[noviceny]

Big Guy,

 

I understand what you are saying about Brazil. I saw City of God after I went to Brazil and was glad it was after. I will tell ya the same thing I told another MC member who is planning on going to Brazil, but is a little shaky too.

 

If you are a smart traveler, I think you will be OK. I have lived and traveled in Asia (lived/traveled), Europe(vacation), US (lived/traveled) Mexico and South America (vacation). I did this when I was relatively young (between 23 and 30 yrs old). I dont consider myself especially savvy, but I definitely have common sense and am aware of my surroundings. There were also times when I was drunk of my ass, and put myself in dangerous places, where I could have been fucked up easily. I have never had a problem abroad and have always (except once in Europe) traveled alone...love the ability to get up and go where ever you want in a country, or just go on to another one.

 

That being said, Brazil has its dangers. It is notorious for child kidnapping (I assume you do not have to worry about that, unless you look incredibly young :-) ) and the poverty is heartbreaking. With poverty almost always comes crime and Rio has a very high crime rate. Now, the good part...most of Rio can be seen without putting yourself in danger. The beaches, MOST of the clubs (Read the South of the Border section) are all good to go to, as long as you follow some basic rules (again read the section on the South of the border). Some places are dangerous to go to at night cause of the neighborhood that they are in. However, being careful and taking a cab there and back seems to be a good precaution. I was kind of stupid and love to walk around the city and sometimes found myself in neighborhoods where I got the feel that I could be stabbed and left for dead. Luckily I had no problems.

 

So many people tried to discourage me from going to Brazil (this was about 3 or 4 years ago) and I am so glad I didnt listen to them. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, and I loved it. Iloved most of the coutries Ive been too, but Brazil (and Spain) is the country that I would go back to again and again, if I had the money.

 

Be careful and have fun...definitely dont let the threat of possible danger interfer with one of the best trips of your life.

 

PS I did not go during Carnival...heard its much more crazy...I went in May...it was fucken HOT (not Paris Hilton "hot" but temperature "hot")!!!

[trilingual]

I assume this was a Brazilian film? Do you know the title in Portuguese, by any chance? I don't recognize the film by your description, but sometimes Brazilian films open and close while I'm in the U.S. and I never even knew they were around!

 

BTW, if you think about some of the stuff shown in many American films (extreme violence, drug use, abusive sex, etc.) it's a wonder anybody ever wants to visit the U.S.A.

 

It's important to distinguish film from reality. Films are good for showing one aspect of reality. They can't capture the full panorama of a nation. Brazil (and everywhere else) is much more complex and varied than any one film can show. Slums and violence are a reality in Brazil, for example, but so are vast middle and upper-class residential areas that are as safe as their counterparts in other large cities around the world (I live in one when I'm in Brazil). Class divisions are great in Brazil, but at the same time there's a mixture of people and classes that's difficult to describe or catch on film. You have to see it for yourself.

 

As for class divisions, one hardly need look beyond Los Angeles. Just ask someone who lives in Compton or East L.A. what's likely to happen to him if he decides to go on a walk through residential areas of Beverly Hills or Bel Air! Or ask residents of Beverly Hills and Bel Air when was the last time they shopped or dined out in Compton or East L.A.!!!

[CT Dick]

Tri, it is called 'Cronicamente Inviável' by Sérgio Bianchi (2000). 

 

It hits the viewer over the head with the class distinctions and regional prejudices of Brazil. I did not find it as frightening, though, as City of God.

 

There was one scene in a SP sauna where a drag was conducting a 'best ass' show. The guys were shown getting hard in front of a TV before coming out. The dialog was between two str8 garotos - a new one and an experienced one. It trashes us johns pretty badly.

 

Dick