As a youth on his way to becoming Brazil's most legendary crime figure, the Red Light Bandit (Paulo Villaca) begins his life of crime in the slums of Sao Paulo. He corners the criminal market on bookmaking and prostitution before he is caught by the police and commits suicide. The antihero breaks into houses, whores it up in dingy nightclubs, and sleazes his way along, to become the authorities' most-wanted criminal. First-time director Rogerio Sganzerla has built-in public interest in Brazil with this film that is based on the story of an infamous real-life criminal.