Pixote

"They can't outrun the law of the weakest."

1980 2h 7m PT

🙌

7.9

BANGER

★7.9TMDB · 261

CrimeDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

10-year-old Pixote endures torture, degradation, and corruption at a local youth detention center where two of its members are murdered by policemen who frame Lilica, a 17-year-old trans hustler. Pixote helps Lilica and three other boys escape and they start to make their living by a life of crime which only escalates to more violence and death.

“They can't outrun the law of the weakest.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Fernando Ramos da Silva
Pixote
Jorge Julião
Lilica
Gilberto Moura
Dito
Edilson Lino
Chico
Zenildo Oliveira Santos
Fumaça
Claudio Bernardo
Garatao
Israel Feres David
Roberto Pie de Plata
Jose Nilson Martin Dos Santos
Diego

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Héctor Babenco
Writers: Héctor Babenco, Jorge Durán
Languages: Portuguese
Countries: Brazil

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

46 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Héctor Babenco, shot by Rodolfo Sánchez. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by John Neschling. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Luiz Elias shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Fernando Ramos da Silva and Jorge Julião and Gilberto Moura carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "They can't outrun the law of the weakest.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0082912 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Héctor Babenco directs. Rodolfo Sánchez behind the camera. John Neschling scores. Luiz Elias cuts. Produced in Brazil. Dialogue in Portuguese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

146 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Héctor Babenco, shot by Rodolfo Sánchez. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by John Neschling. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Luiz Elias shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Fernando Ramos da Silva and Jorge Julião and Gilberto Moura carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "They can't outrun the law of the weakest.".
7IMDB entry: tt0082912 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 8 themes, including "prostitution", "lgbt", "disturbed", "gay theme".
9Released under 13 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Rodolfo Sánchez
Original score: John Neschling
Editing: Luiz Elias
Costume design: Clovis Bueno
Makeup / hair: Josefina de Oliveira
Runtime: 127 min · 2h 7m
Status: Released
Original language: PT
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Pixote (1980)

Also by

Héctor Babenco

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

badelf2023-08-08
★ 10/10
Those of us born with rights and privileges, however limited they might be, are kings and queens compared to those who are born with absolutely no rights or privileges. This film is a glimpse into the life of that lower caste. It's easy enough for us to say "Well, you always have a choice." But here, the director, Hector Babenco, puts the final nail in the coffin of that idea. The film seems almost documentary, which is exactly what makes this opus a masterpiece. With the exception of Marília Pêra, the actors were not actors. They were drawn from the inner city of São Paulo itself, where the film took place. The movie appears to be not even scripted, but improvised by the street kids that lived that life everyday. Pixote is essential viewing for any international film lover. The thin line between art and life is erased by Pixote. So much so, that a few years later the film's lead actor, Fernando Ramos de Silva (Pixote) suffered the same fate in real as did his cohorts in the film.

Production companies