Jader Barbalho is probably one of the most corrupt politicians in Brazil and as is all to typical in politics in Brazil, his corruption notwithstanding, he has managed to hold every elected office except for president.
São Paulo has what essentially amounts to a mini-industry centered around kidnapping the rich:
- There are more urban private helicopters in São Paulo than anywhere else and it's not just a result of the horrible traffic.
- At least one plastic surgeon - and I would imagine there are others - specializes in ear reconstruction as ears are frequently cut off as proofs of life for kidnap victims.
- There is thriving industry for private car armoring.
- Specific police units are dedicated against kidnapping.
What do these two have in common? As the film Manda Bala attempts to make the argument, the rich steal from the poor and the poor steal the rich. While I find the argument plausible, Jason Kohn, the director of the film seems to be more enamored of the lurid aspects of the story than making a cogent argument.
One of the methods by which it is alleged that Jader Barbalho supped at the public trough was through a program called Sudam, a development agency in the Amazon region. One of the programs involved farming of frogs for consumption. Instead of an extensive analysis as to how Barbalho may have done this, we are treated to a detailed examination of frog cultivation and processing, followed by ending shots of people eating rã milenesa (deep fried, breaded frog). Yes people eat frogs in Brazil. So what?
Instead of a detailed examination as to why the poor kidnap the rich, we are given a brief interview with a kidnapper living in a favela in São Paulo who feels no remorse for his actions, while a great deal of time is expended in showing how replacement ears are molded from rib cartilage and fit into the victim's skin.
There's a good film in there waiting to get out and there is a need for a film or films addressing these issues. Unfortunately, Manda Bala is not it.
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