A former high-ranking Rio cop retired after three decades on the force, Vieira argues with his hooker girlfriend Magali and the next morning she’s found murdered. Initially a suspect, he’s cut adrift to wallow in his own misery—until Magali’s younger co-worker Flor begins to show an interest. As Vieira works through his grief, flashbacks to his good times with Magali also reveal his sordid past with former partner and current politico Monteiro. What’s with the briefcase full of American dollars, what’s with nervous whore Vanessa, and how exactly did Magali die? This taut, ambitious, largely hand-held thriller from veteran director Jose Joffily is a solid hard-boiled genre entry, with political intrigue added to the mix.