Cidade de Deus (2002)

Directors:

Fernando Meirelles
Kátia Lund (co-director)

Writers:

Paulo Lins (novel)
Bráulio Mantovani (screenplay)

Release Date:

2002 (Russia)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

If you run you're dead...if you stay, you're dead again. Period.

Plot:

Two boys growing up in a violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro take different paths: one becomes a photographer, the other a drug dealer.

Plot Keywords:

City Of God | Violence | Photographer | Growing Up | 1960s

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 49 wins & 25 nominations

Cast

Alexandre Rodrigues	...	Buscapé - Rocket
Leandro Firmino	...	Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé (as Leandro Firmino da Hora)
Phellipe Haagensen	...	Bené - Benny
Douglas Silva	...	Dadinho - Li'l Dice
Jonathan Haagensen	...	Cabeleira - Shaggy
Matheus Nachtergaele	...	Sandro Cenoura - Carrot
Seu Jorge	...	Mané Galinha - Knockout Ned
Jefechander Suplino	...	Alicate - Clipper
Alice Braga	...	Angélica
Emerson Gomes	...	Barbantinho - Stringy
Edson Oliveira	...	Barbantinho Adulto - Older Stringy
Michel de Souza	...	Bené Criança - Young Benny (as Michel De Souza Gomes)
Roberta Rodrigues	...	Berenice - Bernice
Luis Otávio	...	Buscapé Criança - Young Rocket
Maurício Marques	...	Cabeção - Melonhead

Also Known As:

City of God (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
God's Town (International: English title)
La cité de Dieu (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong brutal violence, sexuality, drug content and language.

Runtime:

130 min | Canada:135 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Brazil | France

Language:

Portuguese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:M18 (video rating) (version 2) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | South Korea:18 | Israel:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Brazil:16 | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | Germany:16 (bw) | Hong Kong:III | Italy:T | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) (cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R | Singapore:R21

Filming Locations:

Cidade de Deus, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Company:

O2 Filmes

Trivia:

There's a scene in which the young Buscapé (Luis Otávio) laughs at his brother Marreco (Renato de Souza) after the latter is slapped by their father. The laughter was not scripted, but Otávio couldn't stop it. So de Souza improvised, telling his young brother "not to laugh at him".

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the Tender Trio open the garage to steal the car after the motel robbery, the car drives out before the boys have completely entered the garage.

Quotes:

Zé Pequeno: Can you read?
Gang Member: I can read only the pictures.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Cidade dos Homens: Em Algum Lugar do Futuro (#4.5)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Hold Back the Water

Stunning - in every sense of the word

Cidade de Deus seems to have a lot of praise on the IMDb boards, and with good reason too. It simply is, in my opinion, one of the best contemporary films ever made.

Based on true events and characters who live in the overlooked and poverty stricken slums in the shadows of Rio de Janiero, where life expectancy doesn't reach the 30's and drug dealers are kings.

The tale of the City of God, and its myriad of characters is told by Rocket, a young man who struggles to make something of his life, other than to wind up another victim of drugs or gang wars.

Not only are the characters in City of God absolutely fascinating, and also very endearing, but also convincingly acted by groups of young and unknown actors. The stoies are well-told, and at times, funny, and at others, brutally shocking.

The cinematic style of the film gives a nod to Tarantino, with some clever time-jumping, freeze-framing, and texts indicating another chapter of the film. In every sense, a bit of a Brazillian "Pulp Fiction" or "Goodfellas", but with its own unique flavour to it.

The City of God is a marvel, and a highly recommended film to watch, but not recommended for the over-sensitive or easily distressed.