LAST STOP 174

Directed By Bruno Barreto

Review By Kim Jindra

LAST STOP 174 tells the story of Sandro and Alessandro, two young Brazilian boys who are orphaned and forced to grow up on the streets of Brazil.  They first meet as adversaries during a drug deal.  Later when they are both inmates at the same detention center Sandro covers for Alessandro and they become friends.  Both boys eventually escape during a riot.  Alessandro turns Sandro into his sidekick as they terrorize Rio drivers.  Sandro also fancies himself in love with a prostitute which angers Alessandro when he can't share.  The boys come to blows when Sandro refuses to kill a potential robbery victim and they part ways. 

Sandro turns to the prostitute only to fins Alessandro beat him to her.  He tries a shelter but doesn't get the response he wants.  His desperation causes him to rob a minister and then take a bus full of people hostage. 

LAST STOP 174 is based on an actual hostage situation in 2000 in Rio.  I think the hostage part of the film is better illustrated in the documentary BUS 174 but director Bruno Barreto tries to humanize the criminal.  As with CITY OF GOD, Braulio Mantovani's script takes another harsh look at street survival in Brazil.  All the kids did a fine job.  I didn't know whether I felt hugging them or running as fast as possible.   It is a must see for anyone planning to vacation in Brazil - if only to be prepared.