City of God - review

Title: Cidade de Deus (City of God)
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Cast: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino
Released: 2003

Every now and then you get blown away.

City of God blew me away when I saw it earlier this year. It was fitting that I saw it in an old fashioned theater-style cinema, these kinds of films (good films) don't always get much attention in cinemas. As with 25th Hour, I enjoyed every moment knowing that I was witnessing something rare, a good independant film that is actually being noticed by people. It is such a complex and touching film that it's hard to write a proper review without leaving something important out. Needless to say there are many stories told in the city of God; the run-down neighbourhoods, or more accurately, the ghettos of Rio De Janeiro. As they say in the film, it is far removed from the postcard image that most of us are accustomed to seeing of "Rio". Guns are not a culture here, they are part life, part of being a man, or in some cases, a child. We are narrated through the many complex stories by the main character "Rocket" played by young newcomer Alexandre Rodrigues.

What basically follows is over two hours of small and short stories, all told within the city of God, and all revolving around the local tough guys of the moment. Ultimately however, there is only one tough guy who has real ambitions of controlling the city of God, "Lil' Ze" played by the excellent Leandro Firmino (who also bears more than a slight resemblance to Andre Benjamin of Outkast). The story is too deep to go into properly, but needless to say it comes together very nicely, and entertains throughout. If you don't like violence, realistic or not, then don't watch this film. If you appreciate realism, no matter how painful it can be to watch, then you will appreciate the more violent aspects of this film. My face was literally screwed up in pain and anguish as I sat through the killing of a young child, but you can't fault anyone for showing what really goes on, as Rocket says, "away from the postcard image of Rio De Janeiro".

In style, this film is somewhat comparable to Lock, Stock and two smoking barrels, or snatch for that matter, but for those who say this film is merely a regurgitation of those films in Portugese, I would disagree. City of God is also fairly similar to John Singleton's Boyz 'N The Hood, but there is no way you could say that this is merely a Brasillian remake of any of those films. So what seperates it? It's heart. It does have a heart. It beats every now and then in the love stories, which perfectly capture the feelings of an adolescent in love. It charms you. It doesn't attempt to be gritty for the sake of being gritty or shocking for the sake of being shocking (e.g, Lock, stock...Irreversible) it merely shows things as they very honestly are, in a more entertaining, up-tempo style.

Before reccomending that you buy the DVD and treasure it forevermore, I want to tell you something. Before you put in the film and get blown away, remember this, all of the actors in the film are amateurs. They are real kids living in the slums of Rio. They're not acting. Now go and watch the film and appreciate it that little bit more.

Y.Misdaq