Kites Director Walter Thompson-Hernandez on Violence the Poetry in the Favelas of Rio de Janeiro

Kites Director Walter Thompson-Hernandez on Violence the Poetry in the Favelas of Rio de Janeiro

In the favelas of major Brazilian cities like Rio de Janeiro, it’s common to see colorful kites punctuating the skies. The informal settlements, or slums, have become synonymous with their kites and kite festivals, where residents use bamboo and paper to keep the traditional activity alive.  That image was a memorable one for filmmaker Walter Thompson-Hernandez, who was struck by the juxtaposition of the innocent activity with the police brutali…