Where There's No Place For Innocence and Dignity

Rating: Null/10 (7 November 2011)

Fernando Meirelles and co-director Kátia Lund just about get everything right in 'Cidade de Deus'. On the technical side, it's absolutely amazing, whether you're talking about the remarkable direction, the electrifying cinematography, the haunting raw visuals, the energetic yet eery score, the excellent editing, authentic art direction or stunningly real performances. Bráulio Mantovani's screenplay is rich in grit, dark humour and starkness. The eclectic cinematography varies from close ups, freeze-and-zoom to sweeping motion scenes, long shots and hand-held approach. The depiction of the title city is metaphorically described in the film as purgatory that transforms to hell and the way Meirelles portrays it makes it easy to draw the conclusion that it's one of the most frightening and dangerous places in the world. The fact that it's based on real events and that it still exists sends a chill. 'Cidade de Deus' is a film that haunts. It lingers in mind long after one has finished watching. However, the film, while intense and chaotic, is cleverly balanced with dark humour.
Visceral, energetic, funny, unsympathetic, scary and metaphorical are among the few diverse adjectives that describe this stupendous film. There's nothing like it.