How Angels Are Born () is a 1996 Brazilian crime drama film directed by Murilo Salles. It stars Priscila Assum and Silvio Guindane as two Rio de Janeiro favela's children who become involved in the kidnapping of an American man played by Larry Pine. How Angels Are Born has received awards at film festivals, and has been well received by critics. Plot Maguila, a developmentally delayed man, accidentally kills the drug lord of Favela Santa Marta, Rio de Janeiro. Pursued by other drug dealers, Maguila flees from the favela along with a 13-year-old tomboy nicknamed Branquinha who proclaims herself Maguila's wife. Amid the confusion, Branquinha takes her friend Japa into a car whose driver is forced to help Maguila. Suddenly, Maguila gets out of the car with the children. They arrive at the house of the American William, and Maguila asks to use his bathroom to relieve himself, as according to Branquinha he was well-bred by his mother and cannot bring himself to urinate outdoors. Assuming it is a robbery, William's chauffeur shoots Maguila who in response kills him. In the house, they discover Dona Conceição, William's maid, and Julie, William's daughter, both trying to call the police, but Japa prevents them from doing it. Maguila and the children do not want to stay there, but Maguila wants first aid to be performed on his wound before leaving. Julie attempts to bandage him up, but when the fugitive trio are about to leave the house, Japa notices a police car nearby. Japa recommends that they to wait until it goes away, and Branquinha and Japa tie up the residents. While Maguila is exhausted due to his injury, Japa explores the house and Branquinha becomes fascinated by Julie, forcing her to take off her shirt so she can admire her breasts. The police car eventually disappears, but Maguila decides to rest. In this time, Marta, William's secretary, finds it odd that no one answers the doorbell, and calls the police. Trapped inside the house, the children and William try to negotiate with the police to leave the place. They request the presence of an American ambassador, a children's rights non-governmental organization, and the press to assure their security. To show off to the police, Branquinha asks Julie to wear fancy clothes to give the appearance that she is safe. While the children are on the second floor choosing Julie's clothes for