{Cidade de Deus}
 --- Subtitled --- 'What are you doing, you're just a kid?' "I steal, I kill, I carry a gun, how can I be just a kid? I am a man." 15 miles from paradise... One man will do anything to tell the world everything. Celebrated with worldwide acclaim, this powerful true story of crime and redemption has won numerous prestigious awards around the globe! The streets of the world's most notorious slum, Rio de Janeiro's "City of God," are a place where combat photographers fear to tread, police rarely go and residents are lucky if they live to the age of 20. In the midst of the oppressive crime and violence, a frail and scared young boy will grow up to discover that he can view the harsh realities of his surroundings with a different eye: the eye of an artist. In the face of impossible odds, his brave ambition to become a professional photographer becomes a window into his world and ultimately his way out! Storyline: Brazil, 1960's, City of God. The Tender Trio robs motels and gas trucks. Younger kids watch and learn well...too well. 1970's: 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. Yet he keeps getting swept up in the madness. All he wants to do is take pictures. 1980's: Things are out of control between the last two remaining gangs...will it ever end? Welcome to the City of God. Written by Jeff Mellinger Editor's Note: Like cinematic dynamite, City of God lights a fuse under its squalid Brazilian ghetto, and we're a captive audience to its violent explosion. The titular favela is home to a seething army of impoverished children who grow, over the film's ambitious 20-year timeframe, into cutthroat killers, drug lords, and feral survivors. In the vortex of this maelstrom is L'il Z (Leandro Firmino da Hora--like most of the cast, a nonprofessional actor), self-appointed king of the dealers, determined to eliminate all competition at the expense of his corrupted soul. With enough visual vitality and provocative substance to spark heated debate (and box-office gold) in Brazil, codirectors Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund tackle their subject head on, creating a portrait of youthful anarchy so appalling--and so authentically immediate--that City of God prompted reforms in socioeconomic policy. It's a bracing feat of stylistic audacity, borrowing from a dozen other films to form its own unique identity. You'll flinch, but you can't look away. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition. Cast Notes: Alexandre Rodrigues (Buscapé [Rocket]/Alexandre Rodrigues/Wilson Rodrigues), Leandro Firmino (Zé Pequeño [Li'l Ze] [as Leandro Firmino da Hora]), Phellipe Haagensen (Bené [Benny]), Douglas Silva (Dadinho [Little Dice]), Jonathan Haagensen (Cabeleira [Shaggy]), Matheus Nachtergaele (Sandro Cenoura [Carrot]), Seu Jorge (Mané Galinha [Knockout Ned]), Mané Galinha (Himself [archive footage]), Jefechander Suplino (Alicate), Alice Braga (Angélica), Emerson Gomes (Barbantinho), Edson Oliveira (Barbantinho Adulto), Michel de Souza (Bené Criança [as Michel De Souza Gomes]), Roberta Rodrigues (Berenice), Luis Otávio (Buscapé Criança). User Comment: Gregory Goldlust (greg_goldlust@ig.com.br) Sao Paulo, Brazil • Affecting Brazilian film shows the rise and fall of one of the biggest slums in Rio de Janeiro. Film's length (two hours plus) somehow mutes its overall impact, but still good, and has some unusually powerful moments. Once scene in particular, involving two young children, is so anguishing, that's it almost hard to watch. Not for the faint of heart: the violence portrayed here is raw, realistic, and brutal. Impressive performances by amateur actors. When Cidade de Deus (City of God) was released, it was so well received, that the film borders on being pretentious. People keep saying that this is the best Brazilian movie ever made. I disagree. Hector Babenco's 1981 Pixote is much, much better. I personally don't love Cidade de Deus, but as a lesson to show people around the world what's going on here, it scores bull's-eye. Summary: Pretentious IMDb Rating (07/24/14): 8.7/10 from 406,261 users Top 250: #21 IMDb Rating (10/15/07): 8.7/10 from 78,926 users Top 250: #18 IMDb Rating (06/08/04): 8.7/10 from 12,449 users Top 250: #31
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