One word: Powerful

Rating: 10/10 (5 May 2009)

City of god is the most powerful movie I've seen. Period. Is it the best one?. No, but it should be considered as one of the best.
Seldom we the viewers have the chance to experience something like this film. From the beginning to the end, this masterpiece allows no time to breathing. The storytelling is restless, the descriptions of the favela and its inhabitants are ruthless, and the hope of a better future is scattered after the sound of a bullet (from the thugs' guns or the police's guns)
The story starts in the 60's and right away we see the city of god as forgotten and desolate place, with its inhabitants debating of which way would be useful to earn some money: by working hard or robbing. Here we find our two main characters: one is Rocket (buscape)and the other is Lil' Dice (dadinho).Rocket is a well intentioned boy who tries to carry on a normal childhood (and he is the narrator of the story). On the other hand, Lil Dice is a wannabe gangster who hangs out with Rocket's brother gang. Lil Dice is merciless, psychotic and has a strong ambition to become a well known criminal.
Ten years later, we find this two characters in the same place but in different situations. Rocket works as a photographer in a local newspaper and hates Lil Dice for having killed Pato in the past. Lil Dice (now Lil'Ze) has become the greatest drug-lord in the City of God by erasing his opponents. The only opponents left is Carrot, who albeit being a smaller scale drug-lord, he threatens to displace Lil 'Ze
From then on, the story becomes bloodier as a series of related events between major and secondary characters (Knockout Ned, Carrot, Steak with Fries)leads to a gang war.
To sum up, City of God is powerful in both of its side: the human and the brutal. Its depicts the reality of a forgotten place where its people try (in their own way)to not be left behind. Pretty much what is happening in the slums of my country right now.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED