Pixote (1980)

Ten-year-old Pixote (Portuguese for “little child”) lives his life on the streets of Sao Paulo as if he were a grown-up criminal. After he is arrested and sent to a juvenile detention centre, his life turns into hell. Together with the other inmates, they are abused and humiliated by the sadistic guards. When 17-year-old trans girl Lilica is wrongly accused of murdering two young prisoners, Pixote decides to escape with her and two others. Back on the streets, however, they have to take drastic measures to survive. 

Pixote is a raw film, shot in a documentary style, which painfully exposes the harsh reality of many young people in São Paulo. Directors such as Spike Lee, Martin Scorsese and Harmony Korine consider the film one of their favourites.

Restored by Cineteca di Bologna at L'Immagine Ritrovata and The Film Foundation's World Cinema Project in collaboration with JLS Facilitações Sonoras and Cinemateca Brasileira. Funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.