Murderers, rapists, stool pigeons, drug addicts. They were the feared ones, the criminals who really ran Carandiru, Brazil’s largest correctional facility: Ebony, an honorable thief and respected leader; Highness, a smooth operator with two families to support; Ezequiel, an ex-surfer turned crack addict; Dagger, a brutal killer with God on his side. They were among the prison’s elite, the select few who ruled Carandiru by their own codes and laws. A rule that would end in bloodshed when 300 policemen stormed the facility and brutally murdered 111 unarmed inmates. This is the true story of that infamous day in October 1992, a day that shocked the world. The day of the Carandiru Massacre.

For thoughts on Carandiru, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/UbusyprQuNI?si=zxBLxBksG3pyTVeN&t=4007]

Video Quality

Carandiru debuts on Blu-Ray in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio from what appears to be an older master that holds up quite well. Despite the favorable state of the master, there appears to be significant room for encoding optimization as this disc does not use the available space to service the master to the best of its abilities. The disc is far from an atrocity, but there are instances of compression artifacts and noise that could have been finessed with a bit more care.

The film grain is consistent which allows small details to stand out within the dingy production design. These grimy elements stand out with significant clarity as all of these cells house a world of individuality. Facial features are detailed when it comes to bruises, makeup, and facial hair. Colors are thematically muted in a way that makes sense. Black levels are decent with only intermittent blocking and crush. This Blu-Ray is an excellent presentation until we can be blessed with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release.

Audio Quality

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment brings us this Blu-Ray with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original Portuguese along with a French option. There is also a Spanish version in DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio. We viewed the original language track which captures the sonic intentions well. Dialogue comes through clearly without being overwhelmed by the environmental elements or the score. The score sets the tone of the film as it emanates with good fidelity. The environmental effects such as the yells of prisoners are crisply defined and given a dynamic placement throughout the speakers. The soundscape brings nuanced life to the rear speakers which allows the setting to feel immersive. Sony has done a fantastic job with this one. There are optional English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Director Hector Babenco delivers a low-key and decently informative commentary track in which he discusses the movie scene by scene including motivations for various elements, how he came to adapt the material, the facets of the characters, the set construction, and much more.

Deleted Scenes: There are seven unused scenes totaling 15 minutes presented here in standard definition with Dolby Digital 2.0 audio. Most of these are additional character moments trimmed to service an already lengthy film.

Historical Footage: Two pieces of historical footage are provided here of the real-life prison.

- State Penitentiary 1928 (7:15)

- Carandiru’s Implosion (1:20)

The Making of Carandiru: A 32-minute archival piece is provided here in which you get a fly-on-the-wall look at the production of the film along with interviews with the cast, crew, and key real-life figures.

Theatrical Trailer: The minute-long trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Carandiru is a really effective entry into the prison drama pantheon. There are occasional interactions with authority figures, but mostly the film is concerned with the prisoners and the backstory that each character brings with them, along with how they all survive together within this forced community. The film is massive, but it allows time for you to understand the complexity of these characters as human beings before anything tragic kicks into gear. Even with its length, the film never lets your attention wane, and it is really captivating viewing experience. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray with a fairly good A/V presentation and some great special features. Recommended

Carandiru can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.