6. Elite Squad (2007, Brazil)
Original Title: Tropa de Elite. A brutal, strong and violent film about the Brazilian police and the fight against drugs traffic in Rio de Janeiro in 1997. Released in Brazil in 2007, it is one of the most successful movies in its native country, rapidly becoming a cultural phenomenon, especially because of the accuracy used to portray the war between police and criminals that is lived until this day and that has killed a horrifying number of people during all these years. Captain Nascimento is the rough leader of the BOPE, the Special Police Operations Battalion, and is desperate to retire due to the risks of his work, since he's about to become a father. Matias, a hard-working part-time Law student, and Neto, an impulsive and explosive young man, are new police officers that want to join the BOPE. The three of them have in common the fact that they've confronted the system. Differently from most Brazilians policemen, they want to fight the crime and defend the law, but have to deal with a lot of difficulties and challenges, including the corruption in the Police itself. Narrated by Captain Nascimento, the movie focus not only in the reality of the Brazilian police, but also in the favelas, which are usually dominated by criminals, and in the relation of the middle class with the drugs. Brilliantly directed by José Padilha and based on a semi-fictional book written by a sociologist and two ex-BOPE integrands, Elite Squad is a punch in the stomach. It is thrilling, touching and exciting, and definitely a must-watch Latin movie.