Cidade Baixa (2005)

Director:

Sérgio Machado

Writers:

Karim Ainouz (writer)
Sérgio Machado (writer)

Release Date:

17 November 2005 (Israel)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Love to live. Live to love.

Plot:

Lifelong friends Deco and Naldinho, who own a small steaming boat in Bahia, meet strip-dancer Karinna. Both men fall for her and their friendship is deeply shattered.

Plot Keywords:

Pregnant | Cheating | Love Triangle | Brazil | Knife

Awards:

17 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Lázaro Ramos	...	Deco
Wagner Moura	...	Naldinho
Alice Braga	...	Karinna
José Dumont	...	Sergipano
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tinho Bahia	...	Lutador de Boxe
Harildo Deda	...	Careca
Fernanda de Freitas	...	Nilma
Luís Olho de Gato	...	Sparing
Andréa Elia	...	D. Lenita
Felipe Ferreira	...	Joilson
Nonato Freire	...	Escrivão
Fernando Fulco	...	Delegado
Carolina Kahro Ribeiro	...	Jamily
Agnaldo Lopes	...	Cliente Karinna 2
Ricardo Luedy	...	Cliente Karinna 1
Olga Machado	...	Médica
Wilson Mello	...	Ferreirinha
Maria Menezes	...	Luzinete
João Miguel	...	Edvan
Dois Mundos	...	Himself
Marcos Pedroso	...	Seu Marquinhos
Adelena Rios	...	Dançarina Strip 1
Leno Sacramento	...	Rufino
Débora Santiago	...	Sirlene
Guiga Scott	...	Locutor Xanadu
Ricardo Spencer	...	Marcelo
Divina Valéria	...	Zilu
Taís Wagner	...	Prostituta 1

Also Known As:

Lower City (International: English title) (UK)
Bahia, ville basse (France) [fr]
Ciudad baja (Argentina) (festival title) [es]
Lower City (Italy) [it]
Stin poli tou pathous (Greece) [el]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language, some violence and drug use.

Runtime:

98 min | Argentina:100 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival) | Brazil:110 min

Country:

Brazil

Language:

Portuguese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Singapore:R21 | Brazil:16 (theatrical rating) | Brazil:18 (DVD rating) | South Korea:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | New Zealand:R18 | USA:R | Malaysia:(Banned) | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Company:

VideoFilmes

Goofs:

Continuity: In closer shots of Karinna on the stripper pole, we can see that she is wearing panties. In farther-away shots, she appears full-frontally nude, putting said panties on.

Movie Connections:

References Collectionneur, Le (2002)

Of machismo and chemistry...

The "tart-with-a-heart" theme is slightly overdone in this otherwise touching film about a love triangle, but 'Lower City' is saved by some fine camera work and the sheer chemistry manifest between its participants; you can really believe in the camaraderie, lusts and jealousies of its characters. Stealing the show is Alice Braga, who doesn't even have an exceptionally pretty face, but whose body oozes sexuality in every scene. Add in skilfully chosen music, and perceptive insights into the nature of life in the Brazilian underclass and the dangers of a culture based on machismo, and the result is short, sweet, and unexpectedly strong. It's hard to imagine a version set in England - but the film exploits the Brazilian self-image perfectly, keeping one step ahead of cliché throughout.