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 75 wins & 45 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:

Based on a true story.

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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

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

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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

The closing credits shows pictures of the main actors, their name, their character's name and pictures of the real life characters (for the ones based on existing people).

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Alternate Versions

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

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Connections

Referenced in Max Payne 3 (2012)

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Soundtracks

Metamorfose Ambulante
Written by Raul Seixas
Performed by Raul Seixas
Warner Chappell Edições Musicais Ltda
Used by permission from Universal Music Ltda

User Reviews

"One of the best films you'll ever see!"--Roger Ebert, does it live up to the hype?

The film revolves around the, 'City of God,' a favela (or ghetto) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a horrifying area where drug dealers run the community, and where children killing children is not an uncommon occurrence.

The story begins with the early stages of the City of God (in the 1960's) showing where many of the problems stem from- the extreme poverty, overcrowding etc. Here, in the early stages of the favela, we meet our main characters, along with the supporting cast. The story revolves mainly around two characters living in the favela, Rocket and Lil Ze, and how they take two different paths through life. Rocket's dream is to become a photographer and to escape the City of God while Lil Ze becomes a powerful gang leader and drug dealer.

The film offers an unflinching look at gang life in the City of God, as it follows the favela through three decades; the 60's, 70's and 80's, and shows how violence just spirals into more violence with the disturbingly high amounts of violence in the favela, most involving teenagers and children.

The direction, cinematography, and editing are all Oscar-worthy. The cinematography is some of the best I have ever seen- with a very visceral, jerky feel, very reminiscent of Saving Private Ryan. The editing is very frantic, which makes you feel like you are on the streets of the City of God, and the direction is flawless, seamlessly blending the many elements of the story.

The film was definitely one of the best films I have ever seen. The story, the direction, the cinematography, the editing and the acting all add up to make a excellent movie that I would recommend to all.

10/10, A+

Would also recommend: Bus 174 and Carandiru

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