City of God (2002)

In the slums of Rio, two kids' paths diverge as one struggles to become a photographer and the other a kingpin.

Directors:

Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund (co-director)

Writers:

Paulo Lins (novel), Bráulio Mantovani (screenplay)

Stars:

Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Matheus Nachtergaele

Top Rated Movies #22 | Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 74 wins & 46 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 Gomes	...	Bené Criança - Young Benny (as Michel De Souza Gomes)
Roberta Rodrigues	...	Berenice - Bernice
Luis Otávio	...	Buscapé Criança - Young Rocket
Kiko Marques	...	Cabeção - Melonhead (as Maurício Marques)

Storyline

Brazil, 1960s, City of God. The Tender Trio robs motels and gas trucks. Younger kids watch and learn well...too well. 1970s: Li'l Zé has prospered very well and owns the city. He causes violence and fear as he wipes out rival gangs without mercy. His best friend Bené is the only one to keep him on the good side of sanity. Rocket has watched these two gain power for years, and he wants no part of it. he keeps getting swept up in the madness. All he wants to do is take pictures. 1980s: Things are out of control between the last two remaining gangs...will it ever end? Welcome to the City of God.

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Plot Keywords:

photographer | slum | gang | brazil | favela | 

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Taglines:

If you run, the beast will get you. If you stay, the beast will eat you

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The two main actors, Alexandre Rodrigues ("Buscapé") and Leandro Firmino ("Zé Pequeno"), were given the option to to get paid R$10,000 (about US $3,000) up-front or to take percentage of the box office. Having no idea how successful the film would be, they chose up-front payment. Even if they were only getting 1% of the box office, it would have been 25 times more than what they got.

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Goofs

When Li'l Zé makes Knockout Ned undress, Knockout Ned's shirt is already unbuttoned. But in the next shot we see him unbuttoning it.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Zé Pequeno: Whoa, the chicken ran away. Get that chicken, dude!

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Crazy Credits

During the end credits there is shown actual real-life footage of the real Mané Galinha, or Knockout-Ned as he is translated into in the American version of the film. This is in fact the same TV interview we see constructed in the film, and we can see that the filmmakers have copied this TV interview down to the smallest detail.

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Alternate Versions

The UK DVD displays the decade titles in English rather than Portuguese.

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Connections

Spoofed in Totalmente Inocentes (2012)

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Soundtracks

Magrelinha
Written by Luiz Melodia
Performed by Luiz Melodia
Warner Chappell Edições Musicais Ltda
Used by permission from Universal Music Ltda

User Reviews

One of the best unseen foreign films

I have seen this movie only recently (2005) and it's easily one of the better foreign films I have seen. Actually, it's probably just about one of the best films I had ever seen.

The characters really make this movie come alive with each of their compelling personalities shining though in the backdrop of oppressive conditions and constant violence. One thing which clearly comes to mind is "Lil' Dice's" ear to ear smile - so vivid and yet so ironic since he personifies pure evil.

The City of God is a world you don't want to visit, it won't be featured on a post card, and it's said to be the city ignored by god himself. This movie makes you feel uncomfortable, puts you on the edge of your seat -- you are right into the middle of the City and you too are caught up in it's violent temptation. More importantly, it's about the triumph of the human spirit against all odds.

This movie in effect is fast paced and hard to follow (with the added stress of subtitles over Portuguese), but it's worth it; and in fact really adds to the impetuous and impulsive undertones of the movie. In addition, the quintessential Brazilian music blending into the film like a well made Caprahina makes it feel authentic like the Italian music in the God Father.

You see the flaws of these men played out in an almost fatalistic nature -- hated, greed, futility; and in it all we see ourselves, our own flaws, and our own condition.

Details

Official Sites:

lighthouse pictures [Singapore] (English) Mars Distribution (French)

Country:

Brazil France Germany

Language:

Portuguese

Release Date:

13 February 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

City of God

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

BRL3,300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$88,292, 19 January 2003

Gross USA:

$7,564,459

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$30,680,793

Company Credits

Production Co:

O2 Filmes, VideoFilmes, Globo Filmes

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min 135 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1