Video:

The anamorphic widescreen presentation of Carandiru is sparkling. The shadows in prison hallways are deep and consistent, while still allowing the viewer to make out details of action. The colors – what colors there are in a prison – are vibrant. There are very few digital flaws, with the exception of edge enhancement in a handful of scenes.

Audio:

The 5.1 audio track is somewhat disappointing. The biggest opportunity to show off channel separation and spatial sound comes in the riot, but the back speakers are oddly quiet – not completely muted, but there isn't enough there to really envelop the listener. The score is the most oft-heard sound coming from the surrounds.

Extras:

Carandiru features a feature-length commentary by Babenco. He speaks in his native Portuguese, with English subtitles at the bottom of the screen. The information is very interesting, and he can keep the viewer interested throughout the film, but it takes some work; thanks to the language barrier, the viewer really has to be paying attention to the film to "hear" the commentary.

There is also a 30-minute documentary on the making of the film. Some interesting anecdotes about the film pop up here, but it is hampered by an over-reliance on clips of the film.

The special features are capped off with two bits of "historical footage," including more footage from the demolition of Carandiru and a 1928 silent newsreel about life inside the prison. This would be a perfect place for a documentary about the actual "riot," or news footage covering the event, but none is included.

Final Thoughts:

Knowingly or not, Babenco plays well off the overwhelming sense of doom in Carandiru; anyone who knows something about the riot knows what is coming. But his vignette-style presentation of the characters borders on excusing their pasts at the expense of showing us the prison dynamic, thereby making the entire third act look like it has come out of left field. The story of Carandiru is more interesting on its own without the film version.