My Home Is Copacabana

Arne Sucksdorff’s drama follows four homeless children—Jorginho, Rico, Lici, and Paulinho—struggling to survive in the Rio de Janeiro slums. They shine shoes, scavenge food, and pickpocket while dreaming of escape from the streets. When Rico, once escaped from a brutal institution in Caxambu, falls ill, he chooses to return there rather than die outside. A somber portrait of poverty and resilience, the film was selected for the 1965 Cannes Film Festival.

Director: Arne Sucksdorff

Cast: Cosme dos Santos, Dirce Migliaccio, Flávio Migliaccio, Antônio Pitanga, Joel Barcellos, Allan Edwall, Leila Santos, Josafá da Silva Santos

Audience-only score — full critic data not yet in the ReelXO vault.