They shoot people in opera's don't they...

Rating: 8/10 (11 July 2004)

Yes this is a violent film that will turn the stomach inside-out (and the eyes away) for many viewers. While I'm more worried about those who might laugh at sections of the film, some people who feel like they already get more than enough of their daily allowance of vitamin violence, I guess should skip this film.
This gripping, powerful film. It soars like an opera for me, and aren't most operas rife with violence, if not rife with assault rifles? The stylish presentation here, I fear will make the gunplay intoxicating for some immature viewers, but it is not hard to see that the hoodlum's life in the favela is fleeting, frantic and fatalistic.
The story unfolds in little ellipses. We often get a glimpse of an action and than cycle back in time to once again rendezvous at the same scene from a slightly different point of view. That is flashy, as is the camera work. We get one fine use of strobe lighting; stop-action speed-ups to demean the marauding murders; and an opening 360 camera-spin for time travel.
This is talent on display that rises above the morass at the heart of this film. In addition there is some explosive acting going on as well, I thought *both* actors that played Li'l Dice were remarkable. The younger of the two in particular delivers such a sinister grin and glee during a shooting spree that his look is more wretched than the result of his action. And yet it is completely child-like. Yikes...
Shooting appears to be the only way out of these slums, with our Ishmael (call him, Rocket) choosing to shoot with a camera. The feeling that violence and the traffic is an inescapable quicksand is done well, there's a great set of shots where Rocket crosses Li'l Ze (nee Dice)'s path at every turn. It conjures just a hint of humour...
Little scenes like that, and the benevolent Benny help to keep this from being just a torrid, horrid gore-fest. Indeed the Benny stretch serves as an eye in the middle of the hurricane. But this film reminded me of the early seasons of HBO's 'Oz" where I just felt my stomach ratcheting up towards my throat time and time again.
The innocence of children seen by me most recently with "In America" is blown away, there's no redemption here, not even for the Runts. Revenge is served as a hot, flaming dish, and one that consumes even those who prepare it.
Ultimately, I think the truth is somewhere between the extremes of the maudlin and the malicious. But in both camps, kids live in a form of unreality...it's just that in the "City of God" they all too readily die there as well. This film has its hope cornered in and caught in such a cross-fire, you can hardly believe it will survive, if anything the accompanying documentary on the DVD was even more stark. Tracing the story out of the film's fiction and favelas leads to an even more complex crisis.
Now that's hard to watch...because it's hard to see. This film was hard to watch, but well worth it.
8/10