Cidade De Deus is Hell On Earth

Rating: 5/10 (25 March 2007)

First, let me say that this film is extremely difficult to rate (for me, at least). I have been known, on many occasions, to purposely and graciously ignore a film's shortcomings in favor, say, of cinematic excellence. If I could just bring myself to do that for "Cidade De Deus," it would probably rate tops from me.
But I cannot ignore the literally horrific, ultra-violent content of this film; it is just too shocking. Yes, I know it is undoubtedly there to make a "strong" point, but this just sickens me, literally; I felt nauseous.
There is nothing angelic or heavenly about this City of God, the name of a notorious Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ghetto slum. This is the "other side of the postcard"; it is really Hell On Earth. Hell for the gang members who deal in heavy drugs, and protect their turfs with the heaviest guns available on planet Earth. Hell for the police, who have turned satanic in their war against the drug demons. Hell for the dwellers, who get caught in the high-caliber crossfire, and must turn into demons themselves to have any chance of survival.
SPOILER --- SPOILER --- SPOILER --- SPOILER --- SPOILER --- SPOILER The scene which almost made me vomit: the initiation of an extremely young gang member. He must choose which of two even younger boys, members of "The Runts," to kill, after each has been shot in the foot by the gang boss. The Runts are the antisocial kids who disrespect society, but who are too young to be in a drug gang yet; they don't really hurt anyone, but their transgression is to cause minor crime trouble on this gang's turf. Too bad for them. They are both crippled, and one is shot in the head, right there in front of us.
The point is valid I suppose: At the end of "Cidade De Deus" we see the Runts take revenge on the gang leader by shooting HIM about three dozen times... And then THEY become the next terror-breeding drug gang from Hell in that neighborhood. The cycle of violence continues, with no end in sight.
One of my figures of merit for a good film is the "watch-it-many-times" test. I know now that this is only one factor in rating a film. I will probably never watch "Cidade De Deus" more than once; I couldn't stand to do so.
Cinematic excellence, including direction, artistic production, acting, etc.: 9 or 10 out of ten. Gratuitous Violence: 1. Average it out. Sorry, but that's the way it goes.