City of God
June 15th, 2004 by Sarin
I have been meaning to watch City of God for quite a while. A Portuguese film that managed 4 Oscar nods. Last night, after watching it’s gritty masterpiece, it is a shame it didn’t get the respect it deserved.
Based on a true story, the film follows two decades in the life of a boys in the slums of Rio De Janiero. The slums are ridden with violence drugs, and even more corrupt police. The main character Rocket, chooses to stay clean and tells the story of the ‘City of God’ from the points of gangs, drugs and violence. The story leads to the maturing of a homicidal young gangster (Li’l Dice), into the city’s most notorious drug lord. Li’l Dice matures into Li’l Ze and owns the slums in drug trafficking. When he wants to eliminate his last and only enemy, the war on the streets begin. Violence and war between the two hoodsters ends up into gangwar, going longer because everybody forgot what they were fighting for. The violence continues in a endless circle, as there is no hope in the slums of the ‘City of God’.
During the movie, the main character, matures into a photographer, and like his character is, he shows the life from both sides of the story. We never really get into his feelings, as we don’t have to, the story is not about the life of Rocket, but what he sees in the streets around him when he grows up. Driving the main emphasis of the movie, the poverty and the organized crime.
Overall acting, direction, art, is top notch with an indie feel. While it may have some snazzy editing, the heart of the movie is in it’s characters. You know from listening to ‘Rocket’ that you’ll never have any sympathy for a narrator who doesn’t open up to you. We truly feel a passion for Knockout Ned (a former boxer out for revenge) and the other good characters such as Benny (the coolest of the cool). We know that, since he was young, Li’l Dice wanted to be the biggest mobster in the city, and we see it unveil shot for shot. Even when it includes a child actor shooting innocent victimes Helter Skeltah style. The kiddie hoodsters, the Runts, you even feel for them, when in their reality, they don’t have a choice.
If you can handle it’s gritty realism (kids with guns, kids getting shot), City of God was an underappreciated indie in 2003. Much of the movie was inspired by the 1990’s mob flick Goodfellas. If you think the movie is too depressing, try watching the documentary following the movie.
Out of 5, I give it 4 and a half.
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