very few things about rio fascinate the the world as much as the city's favelas - surrounded in legends and rumors on the dark side more often than not.

in fact, favelas are an extremely complex urban reality, rich in facets as they are in the precious cultural contribution they made, and continue to make, to rio de janeiro and brazil.

undeservedly famous mostly for the violence that plagued them, rio's favelas are also the cradle of musical styles such as samba and funk, and much of the carnival celebrations and traditions that are now so internationally famous.

deep and inextricable is the connection between rio de janeiro's 'asphalted' districts, and the hundreds of favelas scattered among them - and so many movies have been made - each showing different aspects of these incredible and unique communities.