Overview

Arne Sucksdorff’s drama follows four homeless children—Jorginho, Rico, Lici, and Paulinho—struggling to survive in the Rio de Janeiro slums. They shine shoes, scavenge food, and pickpocket while dreaming of escape from the streets. When Rico, once escaped from a brutal institution in Caxambu, falls ill, he chooses to return there rather than die outside. A somber portrait of poverty and resilience, the film was selected for the 1965 Cannes Film Festival.

Top Cast

Cosme dos Santos

Dirce Migliaccio

Flávio Migliaccio

Antônio Pitanga

Joel Barcellos

Allan Edwall

L

Leila Santos

J

Josafá da Silva Santos

T

Toninho Carlos de Lima

A

Andrey Salvador

Á

Álvaro Pérez