Te Vejo Maré (I See You Maré) – Guardian Trailer from Beija Films on Vimeo.
Benjamin Holman is a filmmaker who has made some short films about the largest and most notorious group of favelas in Rio de Janeiro right now; Complexo da Maré.
Here’s the man himself to tell us all about it:
Media portrayals of Rio favelas have led outsiders to believe that they are populated solely by violent drug dealers, loose women and helpless victims. These preconceptions are stronger nowhere in the world than in the local media of Rio itself. However, despite the existence of heavily armed drug factions in Maré, 99% of the inhabitants are not directly involved with criminal activity. The overwhelming majority are neither criminals nor victims. Despite the armed conflict, many people are often overcoming huge obstacles to achieve great success.
My films are a celebration of these people, their inspiring stories and what is, after five years of living in Rio, still my favourite place in an incredible city. The films follow five different personal stories, including Roberto the boxer who overcame extreme personal tragedy as a youngster to make it into the Brazilian team and is now a genuine Olympic hopeful. We also follow Nininho, the reformed drug dealer who is now a charismatic Evangelical preacher who has dedicated his life to ensuring others don’t go through the same things that he did. The films explore the wealth of music and cultural talent, the strong local economy, the creativity, the incredible determination and close sense of community. The armed conflict is never far away, but neither is a strong sense of humour which runs throughout.
