A Blistering Brazilian Snapshot

Rating: 9/10 (7 October 2019)

City of God or Cidade de Deus is a high-intensity roller-coaster ride that does not allow you to exit. The movie is based on the real events that happened in the City of God in Brazil, and it shows the brutality of a city that is strangled by gang wars and drug addictions.
The movie can be considered ultra-violent, but it manages to not lose itself in the bloodshed with moments that show tranquility. This leaves you with feelings of dread and joy that create a turmoil within as you are mystified by a story that holds no punches.
City of God feels even more real when you realize that some of the unknown actors in the film are also people who used to live the City of God, and the movie is split into different "stories" that are meant to represent the lives of some of the big time players in the city. These tales can either be instances of complete horror or moments that are honest and wholesome.
The movie's cinematography and editing are also worthy of commendation. The way that what is captured in the frame comments and exemplifies the story is an instance of genius.
City of God acts not only as a record of a city that is embroiled in vicious violence, but it also acts as an example of the extent at which filmmaking can be pushed, being one of the most visually striking movies that I have seen. It is a movie that lets you gnaw on terror but only enough so that you do not burn your taste buds.