Brutal but Important Story

Rating: 8/10 (16 October 2018)

City of God is a heartbreaking yet eye-opening look at how children grow up quickly or, unfortunately, not at all in the slums of Brazil. At many points during the film it is comparable to seeing the violent coverage on television news programs about happens daily in the city of Chicago.
I found it hard to watch this film at many points because of the sheer brutality because it involved younger children. I feel that as a nation we are often desensitized to violence due to various video games, television shows, movies, and real life. However, it is a different story when the violence revolves around younger children.
An important aspect of the story that I found moving was the fact that this film is based off of true events. The main character, Alexandre Rodrigues, actually lived in the location where the film takes place.
One issue I have with the film is the fact that I found it difficult to focus on the movie and the characters while also needing to pay close attention to the subtitles. This film requires your full attention at all times. While it is obvious that this is a minor problem, it is still important to take into account before watching.
One aspect of the film that I enjoyed was the sequence of scenes where we learned how the small apartment had been used by the different gang leaders and how it had changed hands over time.
The audience is encouraged to root for Rocket as he tries to escape his dangerous slum. City of God is an important and raw re-telling of Rocket's experiences growing up and his journey to escape the seemingly unavoidable fate of those of live among him.