Favela Rising

The documentary Favela Rising focuses on Anderson Sa; a remarkable man who singlehandedly through his music (aided by the other members of his group AfroReggae) lowered the crime rate and drug dealing done in his homeland of Rio De Generio. It’s amazing, considering the amount of information given in the film of how much the area was swimming in drugs and violence, how through simply music and a good role model public image a whole area can clean up its act. That this all was done because of one man’s efforts is extraordinary. The film details this man’s struggles through his life, as well as Rio De Generio’s troubles, and how they both ceased after AfroReggae.
> The film was extremely successful in capturing my attention. First, through making me as an audience member extremely on the edge of my seat, watching how terrible the situation was over there. However, eventually this feeling left me and was replaced by uplift and happiness over the creation of AfroRegae and the ceasing of the problems in Rio De Generio. Anderson’s determination, after everything that he had been through, and then him finally seeing his plan come into fruition, was awe inspiring. I guess I was much like the citizens of Rio De Generio at that point—initially anxious and then simply in awe of Anderson Sa. I also learned a great deal about Rio De Generio and AfroReggae, which I knew nothing about before watching the film.
> The filmmaker’s challenge must have been documenting how dangerous it was over in Rio De Generio. After all, they can’t be privy to a drug deal with out fear of being killed in the process. However, the filmmaker’s seemed to have caught many moments of strife through the use of surveillance film cameras. That general feeling of initially paranoia is very much felt in the film (probably due to simply documenting the citizen’s faces). As I stated earlier, once AfroReggae comes into fruition this feeling is replaced by confidence, happiness, and hope. The audience perfectly understands what Rio De Genrio’s citizens are going through. The filmmaker’s are simply in awe of the members of AfroReggae. These members are living heroes that the filmmaker’s are lucky enough to have documented with their cameras. One feels that these filmmakers are particularly in awe of Anderson Sa, as they should be.
> The one particular scene that I feel epitomizes this film is the whole section detailing Anderson’s paralysis due to his surfing accident. One immediately gets a sense of this man’s knowing how important he is to Rio De Generio. I almost got a sense that Anderson is like the land and if he is paralyzed, Rio De Generio’s people would be also and the land’s progress would come to a halt. This is the section where the audience becomes completely in awe of Anderson. He eventually walks again and continues AfroReggae. Why aren’t there more inspiring karma-imbued men like Anderson?
> The film initially is edited and shot in a very rough fashion, which very much reflects the turmoil that Rio De Generio is going through. Once AfroReggae comes into fruition the film’s tone becomes more calming and peaceful and more beautiful to look at. The shots of the sea that Anderson frequents in, combined with the happiness on the faces of Rio De Generio’s citizens inspires hope for a better future—a future that is already happening.
> The way the members of AfroReggae move in their dance moves is very much a reflection of their feelings and the hope and confidence that they want to project to the rest of the citizens of Rio De Genrio. It’s amazing that this music has so much power. What AfroReggae does for Rio De Genrio is almost a subconscious process. All music should have this impact and power.