City of God is one of my favorite movies. I saw it three times in a movie theater when it first came out and own the DVD. It is a truly amazing experience which takes you back to 1970s Brazil with the people, the places, and the music of the time. It focuses upon Alexandre Rodrigues as Rocket who is an aspiring photographer in Rio caught in between a gang war. The movie traces the two rival gangs, how they got started, how they went to war and how it impacted the people of the district called the City of God. It’s partially based upon a true story of two criminals Li’l Dice/Li’l Z (Leandro Firmino) and Knockout Ned (Seu Jorge).
The movie plays out like it’s a biography of the City of God from the early days in the 1960s when it was just a small row of house that expanded with a steady flow of refugees from the interior and how crime was always part of the area. It builds from there into how it became a flavela/district of Rio.
With it comes all the stories and characters that make the film so special. There’s the Tender Trio who were small time crooks which included Rocket’s brother, the rise of Li’l Dice/Li’l Z as a gangster and a psychopath, Shorty the snitch, and others. Li’l Z’s partner in crime for instance Benny (Jonathan Haagensen) became a playboy which was what they called the middle class kids for wearing designer shirts, shoes, hanging out at the beach, and who eventually wanted out of crime but couldn’t.
Finally there’s the music shown at the dance clubs with Samba, Soul, Rock, etc. That includes all the dancing and the groove of the crowds.
It is really a one of a kind movie.
C
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May 30, 2011
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