Outlaw or Bandida: A Número Um, the Brazilian Netflix Original, is all about Rebeca and her life of crime in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. Based on the book ‘A Número Um’ by Raquel de Oliveira, the movie chronicles the life of Rebeca and the other characters that either hate her to the point of wanting her dead or become a big part of her life that contributes to making her become a strong person.
Spoilers Ahead
Rebeca
Maria Bomani, as Rebeca, has only seen the worst side of the people close to her. Her grandmother sold her off to the person she owed money to without thinking twice, and ever since, Rebeca has been working like a slave for Amoroso, the local gangster in Rocinha favela. Life is not easy for her, but she uses everything in her capacity to remain alive and not let anyone else control her life. She is good with numbers and keeping accounts. Her independence is on full display when she chooses a man for herself purely based on refusing to marry the man chosen for her by her employer becomes a woman of her own; she is head over heels in love, and the support of her lover, Para, gives her the strength to be the powerful person that she is, someone who could run mafia gangs. She never lets Para make life decisions for her, which paves the way for many good and tragic things for Rebeca whose only goal is to stay alive.
Para
Jean Amorim is one of the supporting characters in the film, who takes charge of his life. Para is one of the many men who grow up in the favela uneducated, yet choose a life of crime and violence over finishing their studies. Para, among many boys, is fascinated by the gangsters in the favela, which is why he does not prefer choosing earning steady income after finishing his education. Para is good at the job he does, even though he is insecure about his illiteracy. He begins to work for Del Ray, who is the rival to Amoroso. He grew livid at Amoroso for not letting him near Rebecca when he and her were falling in love.
Para, however, summons the courage to kill the dreaded man, paving the way for him to reunite with Rebecca once and for all. His only problem is his regular drug consumption, apart from the distribution of the narcotics, which begins to mess with his ability to make decisions. Things get worse when his boss is killed by another rival gang and there is a void left to fill. Para has no confidence, yet he is chosen to be the next leader, supported by Rebeca.
Amoroso
Milhem Cortaz plays Amoroso, who happens to be the only gang leader that everyone in Rocinha favela is afraid of. Amoroso is a hardened criminal; a drug peddler and a pimp, who buys girls from people who owe him money and begins to sleep with young girls before they turn adults.
Amoroso has no redemption arc, as his characterization focuses on how progressively bad he gets as his power in the favela keeps slipping. The only person who helps him keep the accounts is Rebeca, who is relishing his slow downfall as the rival gang is taking over. As a criminal, he is not up to date with what is happening in the criminal world, as Rebeca suggests getting into gambling and betting, which will bring him more money. Amoroso uses Rebeca as a slave and controls every aspect of her life, including choosing the groom of his choice for her marriage. Amoroso is aware of the rise of his rival Del Ray and him losing Para to that side, which makes him livid as well, but all of this is short-lived. Amoroso goes through tough times and finds a way to survive.
Feliciano
Antônio Benício is Feliciano, the man chosen by Amoroso for Rebeca. Amoroso is aware of the relationship Rebecca is pursuing with Para. To put her choice aside and assert his control and dominance, Feliciano is brought in. Feliciano is only the puppet Amoroso needed to make life decisions for Rebeca so that she doesn’t go making any without his knowing. Feliciano himself realizes he has been given power by Amoroso to exploit her; he forces himself upon her, leading to a tiny alteration between the two that escalates into bigger matters. Feliciano, sadly, is not aware of what Rebecca is capable of and consistently chooses to underestimate her.
Zildo
Wilson Rabelo, as Zildo, is the second in command of Amoroso, who is also a big name in the drug mafia with a hand in the other crimes happening in Rocinha in the name of his boss. Zildo is also with Amoroso when Rebecca is sold to them by her grandmother. Unlike Amoroso, Zildo is far more understanding of Rebeca’s situation than his boss and refused to mistreat her. It is Zildo’s nephew Para who falls in love with Rebeca, but Amoroso has another plan for the young girl. After Amoroso’s brutal murder, Zildo goes underground, only to come up when Rebeca decides to take revenge for the people she lost to the rival gang. Zildo decides to help Rebecca after all, as he sees the spark in her as a leader of the gang.
Gil
MC Marechal as Gil is the leader of the gang after Del Ray is sent to prison. Del Ray appointed Gil, who turned out to be a reformer as well who is encouraging people of the gang and the favela to speak up against the injustice and the brutality inflicted upon them by the local police who are corrupt themselves. Gil is a differently abled man who operates from a wheelchair but remains constantly vigilant. He is a strong leader despite his disability, and he is feared by many. He runs a radio channel as well, which is his means to reach out to the entire community in the favela of Rocinha. Para and Rebeca are two trusted members of his gang, and they protect him with their lives.
Saurio
Paulo Guidelly as Saurio is a gang member with Gil and Del Ray but he chose to start their own business of drug supplying. He steals the narcotics from Gil and Del Ray and is eventually caught. He kills Gil in the process of saving himself because he is keen on making his business a success. Saurio soon becomes a rival to Para, who is made the next gang leader. Saurio becomes foe very quickly and plans to be rich now that the police are his allies. Saurio has the corrupt police on his side and hopes to use it to decimate Del Ray’s gang in the film.
