Deus of a Film

Rating: 10/10 (23 June 2004)

City of God is a vivid, compelling work of art. Not only do directors Katia Lund and Fernando Meirelles tell an amazing coming of age story, but they also graphically display the violence and danger of life in the slums of Rio. This is a place where one certainly does not have to look for trouble to find it. Children grow up with a gun in their hand and a nonexistent conscience. School and work are frivolous activities reserved for the weak and meek. Hoodlums, as they are called, can become revered for their crimes and "getting out" is something frequently discussed but rarely done.

Rocket(Alexandre Rodrigues) narrates the film as one of the few characters who does not fall victim to a gangster lifestyle. This is one case where each character is truly victimized, whether they are killing, being killed or just trying to stay out of the way. The film shows, with unparalleled clarity, how incredibly young children can become murderers. It also depicts the innate differences in people even in this environment.

Rocket's brother Goose, along with a couple buddies, get the story going and set the foundation for what will become a horrible cycle. Children start out idolizing the current hoodlum leaders and "grow up" to become killers, thieves and rapists. Long before their wicked florescence, what innocence they had is lost by constant exposure to grotesque violence.
As leadership is fought for constantly, and drugs become the most important commodity in the city's economy, Rocket tries to have a much more subdued adolescence. He isn't that interested in taking up the family business of selling fish, but he also does not want to be a hoodlum like his brother. He smokes pot and hangs out with the groovy crowd. He does consider crime. On a bus and at a diner he tries his hand at robbery, but never gets the gun out of his pocket. People he encounters seem to be "too cool" for him to steal from. Later on, he gets a job delivering papers, hoping he can eventually use his interest in photography to escape his abysmal surroundings.

Subplots abound and they are wonderfully thought-out and executed. Things we suspect are substantiated and things we never thought of are uncovered. Its all so tightly wrapped and succinctly told with such velocity that I was astonished to find that I had just watched a two hour movie. City of God is an amazing movie thats a surefire classic.