AllMovie

The too often tragically ignored street children of Rio de Janeiro figure prominently in this thriller that begins in a hillside slum where 13-year-old Branquinha brags to a German television crew that she has married the neighborhood equivalent to "Joe Cool." Actually her husband is a dim-witted fatso drug runner who gets into deep trouble after he inadvertently causes his boss's demise. With other dealers hot on his trail, Maguila escapes with Branquinha and her friend Japa. The trouble really begins when Maguila bungles again and ends up trapped in a rich-man's villa in the middle of a hostage situation. Now only his diminutive "bride" and her friend can save them. Things get worse when the press gets involved.