Powerfully real, without going overboard.

Rating: Null/10 (8 June 2004)

City of God is one of the greatest of it's kind. It shows how children in this lot can be effected at such a young age to become what is most feared. Some parts of this film are incredibly painful to watch, but it's not really the realistic violence, it's the situation. Almost documentary like, the acting is exceedingly good by these young amateurs. Similar to Gus Van Sant's 'Elephant' where the child actors are so real, that it doesn't even seem like acting. It never strays off to miss it's point, as well as the story. It does what it needs to do, in a unique way. I'd recommend it, for it doesn't glorify the lifestyle these children live, but it also doesn't really make them the villain either.