Barreto's docudrama cuts through the political history leading up to the September events and focusses on the emergence of MR-8. The group was formed in 1969 by a small band of militants seeking retribution for the atrocities of Brazil's military junta. Following the overthrow of the democratic government in 1964, Brazil's dictatorship froze civil liberties and instigated press censorship. The band of revolutionaries organised a direct counterattack in a bid to grab world headlines - the kidnap of US Ambassador Charles Elbrick (Alan Arkin) - to win the release of 15 imprisoned left-wing sympathisers.

Foregoing all previous relationships and allocated individual noms de guerre, the gang are initiated into the cause by robbing a bank at gunpoint to obtain enough cash to finance their mission. This secured, they prepare to pull off their biggest stunt yet over four crucial days.

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The son of Brazilian film producers, Barreto claims, "I did not make a film about politics but about human beings. I did not make a film about ideas but about the fears, desires and tensions involved in a specific episode." Barretto has achieved just this although in doing so he reportedly alienated many left-wingers, angered by his balanced portrayal which highlighted the moral dilemma of fighting a dictatorship with targeted violence.

Alan Arkin is superb as the captive dignitary, as is the captor Paulo (Pedro Cardoso). The characters are twinned not only through the power play of their confined relationship but also through the internal wrestling of their moral consciences.

Unlike more frenetically paced political thrillers, Four Days in September is a measured, dramatic account of events. Barreto takes pains to explore the background to his characters, providing a sense of their motivation and developing psychology. By avoiding shock tactics, Barreto has shown the human face of political conflict.

Clare Norton-Smith