Pubdate: Mon, 26 Aug 2002
Source: United Press International (Wire)
Copyright: 2002 United Press International

DIRECTORS DEPOSED FOR TIES TO RIO DRUGLORD

From the International Desk

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- The Brazilian directors of a
controversial new film about Rio's drug culture were summoned Monday by city
officials to be deposed on their relationship with a known drug kingpin who
is depicted in their movie.

"Cidade de Deus" has received rave reviews from audiences for its authentic
representation of life in the Rio "favela" (slum) of the same name, where
drug traffickers often operate with impunity and violence and killings are
the norm.

Authorities, however, are not among those singing the film's praises and
have accused directors Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund of paying off a
drug dealer during their filming to secure their right to be there.

Many of Rio's favelas are controlled by druglords and have one of the
highest homicide rates in the world. According to official statistics, there
were 37 violent deaths in the slums per 100,000 people last year. An
estimated 1 million people live in the hillside dwellings, around 20 percent
of Rio's population.

Rio's Division for Repression of Narcotics, or DRE, summoned the directors
to their offices to recant the details of their association with Paulo
Sergio Savino Magno, who goes by the alias "Pequeno" (little one).

Pequeno was arrested outside the theater showing a sneak preview of Cidade
last week and was invited by Meirelles and Lund to attend the viewing. He
was apprehended on charges of having committed several drug-related crimes,
including the killings of two policemen.

Several attempts by United Press International to contact the DRE for
comment on the director's deposition were unsuccessful.

Meirelles, according to local news sources, did admit to having negotiated
with drug dealers in the favela known as Cidade Alta to secure their
permission to use the slum as the backdrop for their drama. According to the
directors, dealers in the real life Cidade de Deus would not let them shoot
the film there.
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