The Critics Speak

City of God (Cidade de Deus)

Critic: Steph Lewis
On a scale of 0 to Awesome, I rate this: AWESOME
Released: January 17, 2003
Directors: Fernando Meirelles & Katia Lund
MPAA RATING: R, sexual content, language, violence, drug use

This is one of the most beautiful and disturbing films I've seen in a long time. I know it's heaviness is going to stay with me for several days, and I am thankful for it since there seem to be so few things (especially movies) that get me thinking as of late.

Imagine living in the slums of Rio de Janiero during the 1960's, where youth gangs ran the streets and managed the drug trade. When uneducated, beaten down kids are given a gun, it gives them a feeling of power and purpose. Thus, the kids and kids-turned-adult run the slums. It seems that kids would be stupid for not turning to this life, since it pays so much (considerably more than an honest job...which is also not respected) and offers protection and a sort of family in your gang.

Despite this, Rocket (played amazingly by Alexandre Rodrigues) finds himself a failure at crime. When he tries to commit a crime, he bails out because the possible victims seem too nice. He tries to lose his virginity, but ultimately fails at that too. He's naive and morally precocious, and also a bit shy, and this ultimately means that his destiny will be different from others.

The surrounding battle is between gang leader Li'l Ze (played by Leandro Firmino da Hora) and the other druglords, all of whom are followed closely by the Runts (a pre-teen gang). Benny (Phellipe Haagensen) is a sort of peacemaker between everyone since he is well-loved and appeals to all of the crowds. Knockout Ned (Seu Jorge) is a good-looking good-guy who gets pulled into the gang fights when circumstances knock so hard on his door that he has very little choice anymore.

Rocket, instead of picking up a gun (though they are being handed out like candy) choses to use his own weapon - a camera.

Aside from the realistic acting, the real kudos go to director Fernando Meirelles and Cesar Charlone the cinematographer. Together they tell the story of thirty years of distress in Rio de Janiero with such realism and fluidity you'd swear you were there. Using rapid editing cuts, the movie cuts back and forth in time, helping us to transcend the story while, at the same time, pushing us deeper into it. The social commentary is amazing as we all hope for a miracle to descend upon the people in the City of God.