City of Men

Acerola (Douglas Silva) and Laranjinha (Darlan Cunha) are turning 18-years- old, and have grown up together in a favela in Rio de Janeiro. Acerola feels the pressure of being a husband and having a child too soon, trapped by his circumstances and wanting to escape. While Acerola tries to be a good father, Laranjinha is troubled that he never got to know his own dad, and sets about tracking the man down. As both young men seek to address their problems, a war erupts between drug trafficking factions when a local gang lord is betrayed. Acerola and Laranjinha struggle to stay away from the violence, yet the paths they have set out on bring them to put their own lives at risk, and the shocking revelations that arise threaten to destroy their friendship.

Michael Hayden