Elite Squad: The Enemy Within

In 2007, semi-fictional Brazilian film The Elite Squad brought the story of Rio de Janeiro’s special operations battalion within the city’s military police to the screen. After succeeding beyond expectations, including winning the Golden Bear at the 2008 Berlin Film Festival and garnering a cult following, a second instalment became inevitable. Three years later a sequel emerged, exploring the intersection of law enforcement and politics. Quickly ranking as the highest grossing movie of all time in its homeland, that feature is Elite Squad: The Enemy Within (Tropa de Elite 2 – O Inimigo Agora é Outro).

Set 13 years after the first effort, the continuation commences with a prison riot. The fallout from the fight – dubbed a human rights massacre by the media – ensnares unit captain Roberto Nascimento (Wagner Moura, Romance), with the blame for the death of an inmate falling at his feet. The man responsible for the surge against him is his son’s stepfather Diogo Fraga (Irandhir Santos, Bog of Beasts), a politician with the ear of the Governor crusading for the rights of prisoners. Moved to internal security as a promotion in lieu of punishment, Nascimento attempts to fight the system – and combat the mounting carnage – from the inside.

With Nascimento’s narration guiding the film, writer/director José Padilha’s return to the topics of political instability and police corruption is grounded in the experience of the protagonist on a personal and professional level. As a result, viewers unfamiliar with the first offering are eased into the action, with knowledge of prior events beneficial but far from essential.

Seething with anger at the dishonesty depicted, the feature is an explosive, energetic effort. Reminiscent of co-scribe Bráulio Mantovani’s City of God – albeit from the police rather than slum inhabitants’ perspective – it is frenetic and furious in its presentation of the city’s senseless slaughter. As the film’s dissection of the improbity of public office deepens, it also recalls acclaimed television series The Wire. Merging the vitality of the former and astuteness of the latter, it paints a powerful portrait of the duplicity of modern South America.

Featuring effective performances from the male-centric cast, including a fiery turn from returning star Moura, Elite Squad: The Enemy Within offers an immersive amalgamation of explicit intensity, conflicted characters and a necessarily gritty aesthetic. Although unable to perfect the balance between thrills and commentary, it entertains and engages, making for pulsating and potent viewing.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Elite Squad: The Enemy Within
Director: José Padilha
Brazil, 2010, 115 min

Out now on DVD
Distributor: Madman
Rated MA