Director: Kátia Lund, Fernando Meirelles
Writers: Bráulio Mantovani, Paulo Lins
Stars: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino Da Hora, Jonathan Haagensen
This review is part of the feature:
City of God follows the coming of age of Rocket, an aspiring photographer who grows up in the favelas – the Brazilian slums of Rio de Janeiro, where gangsters rule.
The film starts in the early 1960s, where he, his brother, and their friends grow up and play football. He explains his life story, and that of his (former) friends, in voice-over.
One of them is Li’l Dice, who is already a psychopath as a child. When Rocket’s brother and his gang hold up a hotel, Li’l Dice singlehandedly executes most of its staff and clients.
Years later, Li’l Dice, aided by his accomplice Benny, has become king of the favela – the City of God – running a lucrative drug business. Li’l Dice and Benny are the happiest gangster duo ever, although Li’l Dice can change moods at the flip of a switch. They take out most of the competition, but later get involved in an all-out gang war with rival Carrot and Knockout Ned, a bus driver out for revenge.
Rocket, in the meantime, gets a job as a photographer at the city newspaper, as he has unique access to the gangster types and the places they frequent. He also falls in love with a girl who is unavailable.
City of God attacks the senses with dazzling camerawork and kinetic editing. The colourful settings are bristling with life and energy. The story is based on true events and is extremely poignant – taken straight from life. Especially heartbreaking is the way these really young kids are dragged into a life of crime they can never escape.
The convincing cast of youths – most of them from the actual slums – really helps to tell this fascinating story. The screenplay is great, with everything coming full circle at the end. Cidade de Deus – international title City of God – is a true triumph of Brazilian cinema.
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