REVIEW: Vale O Escrito – A Guerra do Jogo do Bicho shows the naked and raw reality of the Brazilian mafia 5m502h

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Documentary has been praised by the public for covering never-before-revealed details about illegal gambling in Rio de Janeiro and those involved; check out the review

Sinking in the shadows of Brazil, Vale Or Written – A Guerra do Jogo do Bicho is a documentary series that sheds light on the naked reality of one of the most clandestine businesses in the country. The production reveals the secrets of Animal game, where powerful families dictate the rules. 4x5yn

From the emergence of the Misdemeanor Summit in the 1970s to the controversies that arose from the game, the series weaves a complex and interconnected plot. It's like a real-life soap opera and a direct criticism of society that turns a blind eye to this dark side.

What is the documentary about? 1m441r

História do Jogo do Bicho on Globoplay has been receiving positive reviews since its launch (Image: Reproduction/Globoplay)

In a very intriguing and detailed immersion, Vale or Written – A Guerra do Jogo do Bicho reveals the dark behind the scenes of one of the most secret and lucrative businesses in Brazil.

The seven-episode documentary series challenges legal boundaries and unravels the web that makes up the universe of the famous and well-known Animal game — illegal practice that is usually led by representatives of powerful families. Although this is a subject that many people know about naturally, it ends up being an issue that everyone, in reality, only knows about. It is now common to have an idea of ​​what bicheiros are and their involvement with Carnival, for example, but the hole is much deeper.

To understand it a little better, the documentary seeks to delve into the direct reports of bicheiros, heirs and women who, courageously, expose the raw dynamics of this business that defies Brazilian laws. In fact, some of them speak publicly about the entire story for the first time.

The first topic addressed ends up being the formation of the Contravention Summit, created in the 1970s. This group of bosses strategically delineated the territories of the city of Rio de Janeiro in order to establish a type of armed peace that could avoid conflicts and war. With this as a basis, the episodes soon explore the origins of Jogo do Bicho in more depth and uncover all types of controversies over time.

Real characters 6r5h2e

Some of those involved speak about the subject publicly for the first time (Image: Reproduction/Montage)

Regarding the characters in the documentary, they make up a large part of the plot and, if it weren't for their testimonies, much of the story could have been told differently. I believe that the most interesting part of the entire project is precisely the appearance of each person, since it is through their statements that we capture the entire situation in a very profound way.

The Jogo do Bicho documentary is a true tapestry of narratives, where all the figures intertwine in an extraordinary way. As much as we already have an idea, it's still surprising when we see that all the characters are interconnected in some way. Furthermore, the production also helps to create a general and vivid overview of this universe that, until then, was only about the game itself. When we realize, the whole story ends up unfolding and branching out into a big situation in which it is no longer about dispute, but about a very bloody and dangerous war.

The truth is that it is impossible not to compare the content with the classic The Godfather, because, just like in the cinematographic work, the of the game's gang are presented with the same complexity and nuances as fictional characters. This occurs from the beginning, when we know a little more about what the first generation of the Misdemeanor Summit is like, with figures like Miro Garcia, Captain Guimarães, Anísio Abraão David e Castor de Andrade. The group of bicheiros was formed with the intention of establishing an organization between the territories in the city, but in the future, with new in each person's families, the ambition seems to be what permeates the blood and family trees.

The documentary of balloon play it also features reports from samba school directors and carnival commentators, inserted into this mosaic and which help to bring a cultural dimension to the production. His views on the game's impact on carnival and the community, as well as his personal experiences with those involved, enrich the narrative and reveal multifaceted layers of the story. The of the gang, with clearly strong opinions, personify the intensity and brutality of this clandestine world.

Guerra do Jogo do Bicho begins with Maninho Garcia, one of the most violent bicheiros in history (Image: Reproduction/Globoplay)

There is also the participation of experts, journalists, historians and delegates, who add a layer of authority and context to the stories told. Each of these real characters also contributes to the understanding of the social, historical and legal context that surrounds Jogo do Bicho. It is from their analyzes and perspectives that the viewer gains a more critical look at the ramifications of the practice.

But I believe that the main role goes to Shanna Garcia, daughter of the late bookkeeper Brother Garcia, and Bernardo Bello, ex-husband of Tamara garcia and Maninho's son-in-law. In my opinion, both are the main figures because of the conflict that has always occurred within the family. Even though we have the opportunity to hear the side of people linked to them like Tamara and Sabrina Garcia, mother of Maninho's daughters, the entire plot is driven by the testimonies of the two who are always in disagreement.

Thus, the documentary unfolds like a soap opera, where the characters, real and impactful, are fundamental to driving all the episodes. Immersion in the story ends up being inevitable because of this, after all, each character is a crucial piece in this puzzle, where conflict resolution is not based on justice, but through the complexities of human relationships and twists and turns.

Dense and current plot 613w5o

The game's movement began in the 70s with names known at Carnival to this day (Image: Disclosure/Globoplay)

At this point, we all know that talking about Jogo do Bicho is getting into serious matters and police cases, so there isn't much of an escape in the documentary other than getting into this subject head on. What differs and draws attention is precisely the proposal to delve into this sea of ​​violence and mystery without fear, especially because many of the cases involved are related to the family. Bolsonaro, the murder of Marielle Franco and even other investigations without answers.

To address all of this, the documentary needs to do a whole recap until it reaches the present day. The precise exploration of details in testimonies and real scenes portrays the relationships, rivalries and alliances that characterize this underworld.

All the testimonies recall the time in a very visceral way, transforming the documentary into a journey through time. The characters become chroniclers of a tumultuous past and share not only facts, but also emotions and personal dilemmas. The most interesting thing is that this is done without rushing, because each of the seven episodes is focused on a specific character. It is in this style that some end up being denser than others, as is the case with the fifth and sixth, which tell more about who he is. Adriano da Nóbrega, former militiaman now deceased, and Rogério Andrade, the most powerful offender today. A Jogo do Bicho War It gradually gains more tension in this aspect.

What I could feel is that, even though we are aware that we are watching a documentary series, which precisely talks about true facts, it is still only halfway through that we feel close to the story. I believe this is due to the fact that nothing had an end and, as some characters make a point of saying, anything can still happen.

In short, it is a heavy production for the most part, especially due to the inclusion of real scenes all the time, telling the story organically like a commented film. Clippings of interviews, images and videos from personal archives, old TV programs and even illustrations help to enrich this argument, as well as giving it better dynamics.

The story is basically a soap opera, where there is no point in resolving conflicts based on justice. It is clear that there will always be bloodshed and the documentary explores this explanation very well.

Positive and negative points 5x5424

Documentary gets it right by explaining in detail all the connections between those involved (Image: Reproduction/Globoplay)

As we already know, with great boldness, the production does not hesitate to highlight the web of decisions within this Brazilian mafia, revealing the complexity and harshness involved in each choice. Instead of looking for any way to make the documentary more cinematic or glamorous in any way, the narrative sets out to really reveal the reality of an empire that remains on the edge of legality, ironically.

From the first episode onwards, I began to understand why the public liked the project so much, however, I noticed some negative points such as the lack of a better approach to the story of Jogo do Bicho itself. Despite having commented on how it started in the city of Rio de Janeiro, I still thought that the script could have gone a little deeper into this part, given that this is a somewhat controversial subject and that many are only aware of the name.

At the end of it all, you still wonder why the game is illegal and still remains as clear as it is today. Since the documentary aims to talk about his entire story from the beginning, it would be a good idea to clarify or give a note on this issue. In the 21st century, how can this game still exist?

Furthermore, the documentary balloon play it strolls, without forcing, through different fields, accentuating the drama when necessary, as well as suspense, tension and emotion. There is a variety of tones that combined very well and were strategically placed at the right times. The participation of Vinicius George, Delegate of the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro, serves as an example when it is necessary to calm the atmosphere. Even though the subject is delicate, he contributes sarcastic comments that provide just the right amount of comic relief. The carnival Milton Cunha also achieved this feat, which brings the public even closer to the production, after all, it is classic for Brazilian people to be able to mock and laugh at even difficult situations.

Delegado is one of the great participations praised by the public (Image: Reproduction/Globoplay)

Because of this, the approach is clear from the first episodes and does not surprise the viewer negatively. The structure of the script also follows this premise perfectly and nothing is lost. It's the type of production where you can easily enter its universe and still stay attached to it until the end.

But something worth highlighting, since Jogo do Bicho shows an entire history of evil and crime among those involved, is that the documentary is in no way partial or biased. At all times, he leaves the characters' opinions free and uncut. This is a series to show all the details of the plot, but the judgment is up to the viewer. Many times, although this was not the main objective, I felt like I was on a jury, where everyone gave their versions and I kept observing, analyzing and drawing my own conclusions about each figure.

At the end, The Animal Game War ends by showing the reality of how it occurred and could still occur, in the way we expect to see in the credits of some suspense production, for example. I don't believe that the intention is to provoke tension or fear, but precisely to address the fact that we are witnessing a soap opera and real life.

Conclusion 60664y

Globoplay documentary is a real-life soap opera (Image: Reproduction/Globoplay)

Will a new summit be necessary to resolve all these schemes arising from Jogo do Bicho or does the old one still have some power to end the war once and for all? That's the question at the end of it all. Nowadays, we have the successors of each of the first generation who were patrons of some of the biggest samba schools in Rio de Janeiro. Despite this, the fact is that the documentary itself states that most likely, there will be no end to the war if it doesn't go through the bicheiros Rogério Andrade e Bernardo Bello, two opponents that constitute a “big dog fight” to this day.

Furthermore, the documentary is not just a cinematic foray, but a visceral journey through alleys and hiding places where bets are made, and lives are risked. The series challenges the viewer to confront a reality that is often conveniently ignored. The production is not just a narrative about misdemeanor; It is a scathing critique of the society that allows this underworld to exist and prosper. By revealing hidden secrets, the documentary challenges the audience to reflect on the roots of one of the most complex and long-lasting mafias in Brazil.

In fact, the journalist's words Patricia Kogut they are spot on and I couldn't agree more when the documentary refers to a soap opera without heroes and only villains.

Vale Or Written – A Guerra do Jogo do Bicho is a project developed by Conversa.doc, documentary segment linked to the program Conversation with Bial with Fellipe Awi in the direction and narration of the presenter Pedro Bial. He finds himself available on balloon play with the first episode released to non-subscribers.

Due to its success, the documentary series is also expected to have a second season next year.

See also other features

See Globoplay's launches in January (2024)

Text proofread by: Pedro Bomfim

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