FAVELA RISING. Review on Fantasia Movie

Given their lack of formal education, it’s astounding what Anderson Sa and his friend Jose Junior have accomplished. Their model for saving neighbourhoods and giving young people a future has gained international attention.

The first step was to appeal to a population that had no economic or political voice. They did that by forming a band, Afro Reggae, that combined elements as diverse as rap, rock ‘n’ roll, reggae and other styles. (The band, with Sa as lead singer and songwriter, even won an international recording contract.) They put on free concerts filled with songs openly critical of the authorities and the gangs, and recruited young people to train in music (especially drumming), dance, writing and other art forms. They also demanded that their followers reject violence, drugs and alcohol.

They survived death threats, gang wars, an attempted lynching and police furious with the group’s loud denunciations of official corruption.

Favela Rising relies on lots of interview footage of Sa and Junior recalling the early days of their struggle, but it’s most effective when it takes to the streets. Using a visual style of oversaturated colours that seem to leap off the screen, Mochary and Zimbalist offer an unforgettable portrait of the favelas, where young men openly polish their machine guns and a bullet-riddled body may lie around any corner.

This inspiring grassroots success story gets sidelined in the last reel by a surfing accident that left Sa paralysed, and his miraculous recovery. But that late detour into personal tragedy and triumph only seems to reinforce the whole Afro Reggae ethic – do good, work hard and care for your fellows.

Director: Matt Mochery and Jeff Zimbalist

Cast: Anderson Sa, Jose Junior