Portrait of troubled middle-class young men living in Rio de Janeiro. With no attention from their parents, they turn to urban violence, as a compensation. A group of friends decide to kidnap a rich youngster to get some money to spend during the Carnival.

Orfeu is a popular composer from a samba school. He lives in the favela and falls madly in love when he meets Euridice, a newcomer to the neighborhood. But the local drug boss Lucinho stands between them and will drastically change both their lives.

Four candidates for a federal judge position embark on a madcap, no-holds-barred race to outdo one another, each committing his own brand of mayhem.

Ângela Cristina, mother of teenager Maria de Lourdes, has to deal with the difficulties and delights of guiding her daughter during one of the most complicated stages of life.