City of God
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Cast: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Frimino da Hora, Phellipe Haagensen, Deu Jorge
Cinematographer: Cesar Charlone
Music: Antonio Pinto, Ed Cortes
Year of Release: 2003
Here’s a film that comes out of nowhere and kicks the absolute shit out of you. To see children as young as seven take a gun and murder others as if it were a bodily function is not for everyone. But when they live in the ‘City of God’ (a.k.a the slums of Rio de Janeiro) with poverty and crime all around them, it’s unavoidable. And this is the beginning of what City of God is all about.
Based on a true story, director Fernando Meirelles portrays a truly fascinating, if somewhat bleak reconstruction of the events that took place between rival gangs and its members during the 1960’s and 70’s. The documentary, hand-held style puts you right in the middle of the action and forces you to confront the reality of what really happened. Meirelles takes careful consideration in telling the stories of a number of key characters involved in the gang wars but the central character Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues), is one of hope. He strives to break out of the slums and become a photographer. It’s Rocket’s story that provides the closest relationship with the audience and we always hope he’ll make it out in one piece. Like the best gangster films, all the major characters are three dimensional with real motivations and we get to see how and why they become who they are. The camera work and editing is nothing short of amazing with some impressive visual styling and cutting.
Some people are claiming this to be the Brazilian Reservoir Dogs since there are heavy doses of violence mixed with dark humour but I found this to be a more effectual experience. It’s a hard film to shake but one that will hopefully open your eyes to a world that exists and cannot be avoided.
