"City of God"

Rating: 9/10 (13 May 2011)

This film adaptation of Paulo Lins' novel has become one of the best foreign movies ever made. "City of God" is the name of one of the most notoriously violent slums that surround Rio de Janeiro. This movie was shot on location in the dangerous Rio favelas (slums). The casting does a good job showing the diversity of those living in the slums. Many of the actors actually grew up in the favelas. Luis Otávio, who is from the "City of God" itself, plays the main character Buscapé/Rocket.
The movie follows a group of children as they grow up in the slum surrounded by violence and drugs and tells their stories. Buscapé is the narrator and we get an insider's perspective on the situation that has plagued the slums of Rio for quite some time now. It is through this character that the audience is able to enter into the violent world of the "City of God". Buscapé learned through the experiences of his older brother just what happens when you get involved in the drug wars that hold the favela captive and decides to take a different route in life. He is a very raw and real character, one that we can easily relate to. He is desperately trying to find a way out.
Unfortunately the viewer is left feeling a certain amount of impotence with the whole situation. Many people die and the young children that survive are all ready to begin the vicious cycle all over again. There seems to be no end in sight of the violence. The one who does make it out – Buscapé – does so by absolute chance, just by being in the right place at the right time and being familiar with a camera. It seems that only with great luck is one able to escape from the poverty and violence of Rio's favelas.