Set in the sixties, seventies and early eighties in the favela of Cidade de Deus, City of God paints a bleak picture of everyday life in the small shanty town, blended with nostalgia to create a thoroughly compelling motion picture. Based on the book of the same name, City of God describes the meteoric rise of gang’s and drug culture while also giving insight into Brazilian culture. The story follows Rocket, a budding photographer and his interactions with various key players in a rapidly changing environment in which he was raised.
Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles created one of the most compelling foreign crime drama to date with City of God. It is based on actual events in the life of Wilson Rodriguez (Rocket), today a famed Brazilian photographer. The storyline is comprised of many subplots that follows a young boy’s journey into adulthood from a ghetto filled with crime. Complex character development is present among the many characters we are introduced to. The story is told and unfolds nicely with each passing chapter.
The film perfectly creates a narrative which feels like a selection of memories, while stories back track and interweave. The film is cut at a fast pace, but not so fast as to distract the viewer or miss key details. The way the narrator (Rodriguez) describes various characters and events creates a sense that these are almost fond memories. Every single character is based on a real person, right on down to their nicknames used in real life, almost all of whom Rodriguez knew growing up. It is this structure which creates a nostalgic feeling, almost as if Rodriguez is looking back and missing that time despite the obvious hardships. The most brutal elements of the film are shot with low lighting or with a soft focus which blurs the image, whereas the more ‘happy’ moments are shot in bright light with a sharp focus, further aiding the nostalgic style. The abundance of subplots and characters that enter the story as fast as they leave, ends up being the main theme of the film. For every person that dies, there is another to take their place. There will always be something to fight about and always someone to kill.
The story is painted with such moral gray area, and it is this which makes the film that much more compelling. Every character has sympathetic qualities. Even the most brutal and dislikeable characters such as L’il Ze still have redeeming moments. If it wasn’t for excellent performances from all the members of this large cast these moral grays would be harder to distinguish.
Overall the film is still a must-see nine years after its theatrical release in the US, and the Blu-ray transfer does justice to the film. The transfer is a clean and the sound is crystal. City of God is both a shocking and inspiring story about life in the crime filled slums of Rio de Janerio. It is a powerful film that at times you may want to look away from but it is so compelling your eyes cannot.
DVD Bonus Features
There are only two special features on the Blu-ray. One is A Conversation with Fernando Meirelles, a brief behind the scenes documentary featuring interviews with the director as he gives some interesting insights into his creative decisions. And News From a Personal War, a 57 minute documentary filmed in 1997 and 98 detailing real life in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro.
"City Of God" opens December 13, 2011 and is rated R. Crime. Directed by Fernando Meirelles. Written by Braulio Mantovani. Starring Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Matheus Nachtergaele.
