City of God (2002)

Rating: 6/10 (17 October 2016)

Meirelles' City of God (2002) is a heart-wrenching, stomach-churning adaption of a drug war and organized crime in Rio De Janeiro in 1960-1980. Based on real events and people, we follow the growth of children and their journey to become men in a city filled with violence and drug abuse. We watch their fight to stay alive and some's rise to power, and ultimately for others, their demise. We learn in the film that regardless of what path you choose in life in the City of God, you're not safe. Your life is on the line even for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Meirelle is able to remarkably capture the highs and lows while living in the slums of Rio, visually registering emotion to the audience. Time spent playing and laughing with loved ones, friends and family, were often portrayed in daylight; sunny, warm hues, emitting a sense of relaxation during these troubling times. Conversely, dark and cold undertones were used excessively during moments of war, and shadows hid the faces of violent enemies, personally sending chills down my spine.
The close up shots of the characters and shooting scenes made me feel like I was in the slum with the boys, and that I feared for my own life and safety, alongside them. Quick editing was used to quicken up the pace of fight scenes, building up suspense and fear, and often adding a sense of confusion, not knowing who's going to make it out alive.
One scene that resonated with me the most was when Benny was killed, ironically during his, "goodbye" party. The strobe lights of the party added in with the loud music and large crowded, basically emitted a sense of claustrophobia and panic, and you didn't know what was going to happen but just wanted it to be over as quickly as possible.
Meirelle's adaption kept making you hope that things would turn up and magically get better. But it felt too real, and by being immersed into that environment for even just a moment, you understood that living in the slums had no fairy-tale or happy ending.