accessAtlanta

Sex, seediness are rampant in Brazilian 'Lower City'
by Chris Garcia

You know things are getting steamy when the sex is happening almost fully clothed, against dirty walls, in places not exactly private. Bunny rabbits are more discreet. In the naughty Brazilian drama "Lower City," love hurts, lust deranges and people are stuffed with secrets. They often do really stupid things. Director Sérgio Machado's film is a small story that's as aimless as the heroes, two hustlers and a prostitute barely getting by. Read the full review

TO SUM UP
Two lifelong friends, Deco and Naldinho, offer a ride to Karinna, a stripper set on finding work in Salvador. Desire soon turns to obsession. The friends are sucked into a whirlwind of jealousy and petty grudges that ends up undermining their friendship as they realize that they don't want to live without Karinna anymore.

FILM FACTS ...

Palm Pictures

'Lower City (Cidade Baixa)'

Director: Sérgio Machado
Starring: Alice Braga, Lazaro Ramos, Wagner Moura, José Dumont, Harildo Deda
Run time: 97 minutes
Release date: May 26, 2006
Language: Portuguese with English subtitles.
Rating: R for some strong sexual content, nudity, language, some violence, drug use.

On the web
Official movie site

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

READ THE REVIEW

Austin American-Statesman: 3 of 5 stars
"You watch 'Lower City' for the torrid exoticism — that grimy locale, those bedraggled lowlifes — as much as you do for the rather meager drama."