Favela Government

Name: Favela Government
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2025-05-20
Duration: 30 min
Rating: 8
Cast: Jake Hanrahan, Louis Hollis, Thiago Dezan, Jonny Pickup, Sam Black

How a street gang became a government

8.0 (1)2025-05-2030m

Documentary

Overview

Brazil's "Red Command" drug cartel is considered a plague by the government. But for the people of the favelas they control, Red Command *is* the government. They’re the de facto leadership of the area. The gang has taken over the role of the authorities in their shanty towns, where the state has long abandoned them. Away Days got special access to the Rio favelas, hanging out out with young foot-soldiers, speaking to commanders, and seeing how civilians live between the gangs and the equally violent police militias.