What a Masterpiece!

Rating: 9/10 (14 June 2012)

After recently watching the movie Ciudad de Dios I felt great pleasure. The story is very compelling to the audience. It focuses on a real story that shows the life in the favelas. This masterpiece is directed by Fernando Meirelles.
The story first starts by introducing the tender trio. A group conformed by three boys: Bene, Rocket, and Lil Ze. They all live in a favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It takes place during the 60's where first the favela is seen as almost "desolated" compared to the picture of the 70's where houses are few inches apart and where it almost has grown twice what it used to be. The story takes you in the lives of two boys in one of Brazil's most dangerous favelas. As the boys grow up they take different paths one becomes a drug dealer while the other becomes a photographer.
All the actors that take place in the movie do a fantastic job. Alexandre Rodrigues acts as Rocket while Leandro Firmino acts as Lil Ze. While Phillipe Haagensen acts as Benny. The entire story seems very credible. Using the same inhabitants of the favela as actors really helps to tell the story.
I felt the movie was very entertaining as it had many parts that I liked. The part that sticks in my memory is when Lil Ze shoots a boy in his feet. It is very crude since the boy is very young. His performance makes you feel impotent, as you would want to stop Lil Ze.
This movie takes us on a reality that many of us haven't lived in. It shows us how power can be addicting and can make you towards making the wrong decisions. As well it shows us how drugs can take you on an abyss.
The use of the establishing shot in the movie makes a real contrast. The first establishing shot is in the 60's where there isn't much houses and isn't crowded. The 70's shot shows a big change where it is almost unrecognizable favela. In this later favela it runs for miles and more poverty is seen.
The movie is intended to adolescents and mature audiences. As the language may contain profane comments at times. I would not recommend this movie to a young audience since they would get easily lost in the conflict of the movie. My MPAA rating for the movie would be rated R since any younger audiences would get insulted by the crudity of scenes and profane language.
This movie deserves a 9/10 review. It could easily get a perfect review since it takes us on a life in the favelas. The movie overall was pretty enjoyable and appealing.
Alejandro Godinez is a junior of Lincoln School in Costa Rica. Where he is currently taking Film Appreciation class. His interests are watching movies and playing sports.