Movies to watch by Dabs
We watched "City of God" before we went to Rio, its based on a true story, set in one of Rio's most notorious favleas (slums). Rent it on DVD and you get the equally interesting documentary."Bus 174" is a documentary about a bus hijacking in Rio in 2000 by a street kid named Sandro do Nascimento, the story of his life is intertwined with real footage from the hostage situation. The incompetence of the police, low paid workers who can't find employment elsewhere, is almost unbearable to watch as the story unfolds to it's tragic conclusion.
Another film worth renting is "Central Station" about the relationship that develops between a young orphaned boy and an older childless woman who works as a letter writer in Rio's train station.
For scenes of Rio, rent the James Bond movie "Moonraker", the cable car scene was filmed at Sugarloaf in Rio.