this film rocks!

Rating: 9/10 (18 July 2004)

I had been hearing about City of God for several months before actually seeing it, so naturally I expected great things from this film having heard nothing but great reviews from everyone else who had seen it before me. But really, this film exceeded all expectations
The film follows the story of Rocket (who also narrates the film), a wannabe photographer, through his life in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. His brother is involved in a gang who call themselves the Tender Trio, whose main interest is "holding up" and robbing the gas truck that runs through the city.
The trio remain close friends until the looting of a motel brings severe consequences, which concludes by our finding out that some of the group died, went to jail etc.
Then there was L'il Dice, who becomes the dominant focal point of the film as it progresses. L'il Dice is in the same group of kids as Rocket, and he also has a brother in the Tender Trio. It was L'il Dice's job to keep watch at the motel robbing, and we later discover his terrible involvement in that particular incident.
L'il Dice becomes more and more involved with gang culture and drug money, eventually (under the new name L'il Ze) heading one of the biggest gangs in Rio along with his friend Benny, who also acts as Ze's conscience.
What struck me about this film is the huge shock factor that is delivered straight from the first scene (chasing a chicken through the streets of the slums). The violence is gratuitous, so much so that everyone is totally desensitized to it by the end of the film. All parts in the film are played magnificently, special mention should go to Phellipe Haagensen for his excellent Benny portrayal, and Alexandre Rodriguez and Leandro Firmino for their performances of Rocket and L'il Ze respectively.
This film is an honest must see for drama lovers.