Lower City (Portuguese: Cidade Baixa) is a 2005 Brazilian drama film directed by Sérgio Machado, who is also one of the script writers. It was released in Brazil and to international film festivals in 2005, including being screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.[3] Its general release in the United States was in 2006 in New York.

Lower City
Directed bySérgio Machado
Written bySérgio Machado
Karim Aïnouz
Produced byWalter Salles
Mauricio Andrade Ramos
StarringLázaro Ramos
Wagner Moura
Alice Braga
CinematographyToca Seabra
Edited byIsabela Monteiro de Castro
Music byCarlinhos Brown
Beto Villares
Production
company
Videofilmes
Distributed byVideofilmes
Lumière Pictures
Release dates
  • 16 May 2005 (2005-05-16) (Cannes)
  • 4 November 2005 (2005-11-04) (Brazil)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryBrazil
LanguagePortuguese
BudgetR$3 million[1]
Box officeR$1,021,626[2]

Plot

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Lifelong friends Deco and Naldinho share ownership of an old, rusting boat in Salvador, Brazil. A strong bond exists between the two men, transcending their racial differences. "No woman will come between us," Naldinho tells Deco, and Deco concurs: "All the women in the world couldn't come between us."

That bond is tested after the men meet Karinna, a dancer and prostitute. Karinna needs a ride, and she offers the two men her "services" in exchange for transport on their boat and a little cash.

The emotional entanglements that result from Karinna's "deal" are stronger than the trio expected. Deco and Naldinho develop a desire to possess Karinna. Karinna's desires are more subtle, though it is clear that she feels both a sisterly affection and sexual attraction toward the two men. Karinna gets pregnant and decides to abort as she does not seem to know or care who the father is. She puts the two friends at odds with each other, however they are able to overcome her destructive influence.

Cast

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References

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  1. ^ "Bate-papo com Sérgio Machado" (in Portuguese). Universo Online. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  2. ^ "Filmes Brasileiros Lançados - 1995 a 2012" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Ancine. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  3. ^ "Festival de Cannes: Lower City". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-12-06.

Notes

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  • Scott, A.O. (2006, June 16). A Love Triangle With Soft Edges. The New York Times, p. B16
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