10 stars for this masterpiece!

Rating: 10/10 (5 November 2005)

Some people shy away from foreign films because they:
1) remember the (often) boring foreign films of the 1970s-1980s. 2) don't like reading subtitles 3) want some fluffy Hollwood escapist movie (forgetting that nine out of ten times they are disappointed)
When I rented "JFK", there was so much rapid-fire, complicated dialogue that I finally decided to turn on the English subtitles so I wouldn't miss any important detail. Ever since then, I realized that subtitles can actually enhance a movie. After a few minutes, you don't even realize you're reading anymore.
Over the years, I have taken a dozen trips to Brazil, and in my estimation, this movie is an amazingly realistic depiction of life in the favelas (slums) of Rio de Janeiro. Some parts of that life seem really quite pleasant. It's not a depiction of abysmal poverty. Being poor in Rio doesn't necessarily mean sadness and despair. After all, these people do live in Rio de Janeiro, one of the most spectacularly beautiful and lively places on earth. You may not have much, but you can always go to the beach.
That said, it still is heartbreaking to see how a clean, safe public housing site in Rio, so full of promise, degenerated into a chaotic nightmare of crime and death due to drug trafficking.
However, don't think this movie is "a downer". It's a frequently riveting and intense film full of action, drama, and a bit of humor here and there. Other times, it is as laidback and carefree as the Carnival-loving, beach-going residents of Rio typically are.
The story is narrated by a young boy, Buscape (whose nickname means "Rocket"). His ticket out of slum life is by pursuing photography. From his perspective, we see how a once idyllic neighborhood is destroyed by gang violence, mainly due to fighting over the control of illegal drug sales.
Even very young children, some only 7 or 8 years old are involved in horrific crimes, and others are the victims of crime. Some of these children seem to have no qualms about just killing anyone they dislike. They shoot someone dead, and laugh about it.
If I wanted to convince someone to start watching foreign films, I would choose City of God as the best way to change their minds. It is not only one of the three best foreign films I've ever seen, but one of the most remarkable movies you'll ever see.
I gave this movie 10 stars, and I don't think I've ever gone that high before!