10 Things I love About City of God

Rating: Null/10 (11 October 2008)

1. Where to start? It's such a stunning, powerful and provocative film, to try and summarise it in 10 points is a little silly. And I'll probably still struggle. Let's start with the visuals. It's a real credit to Fernando Meireilles that he manages to make each new confrontation fresh and exciting. The editing, cutting and lighting all contributes to a visceral, involving experience. This isn't something I normally notice in a film, but as Dantes inferred, you can't help but notice it in City of God. But what is particularly noticeable, is that it doesn't lose passion or heart amongst the fancy visuals.
2. City of God is a film that really invests in its characters. It treats the audience with respect, so that instead of shallow, two dimensional characters we have a morally complex menagerie of different people, each with a cool nickname, and each with a believable, sympathetic character arc. My favourite: Benny.
3. Benny  he's the coolest hood in the city.
4. City is structured very episodically, and each section has a name to it. From this we can get a real sense of what life in the favela is like, but also we get a wide, all encompassing view of the slum. Yet somehow, despite the very defined sections, it never loses it's breakneck pace, and all the different fragments flow as one film.
5. The fact that such a bleak, powerful story is interspersed with some genuinely funny comic moments is a marvel. It's great to see Rocket's attempt to break into the crime world, but failing because all the people he meets are too cool.
6. It's such a heartbreaking story. The shocking final revelation before the credits roll, the sadness of seeing kids involved in acts of horrendous violence. It's not exactly something to love, but it's masterfully handled.
7. Alice Braga.
8. The performances are all stunning. Alexandre Domingues, in the central role, is immensely likable (as one of the few likable characters on show, that is). Seu Jorge (who I love even more since The Escapist) is brilliant as Knockout Ned, the icon of the resistance. I mentioned earlier that all of the characters are brilliantly created, and this is mainly down to the sterling performances that are too many to mention. But Lil Zé is possibly the strongest performance of the film. Leandro Firmino is unforgettable as the tormented yet powerful gang leader Lil Zé. He is a villain to remember.
9. The section entitled Benny's farewell. It is one of the greatest scenes in cinema. Ever. It's just mind blowing. Particularly the strobe lighting. It's just magnificent.
10. I couldn't stop thinking about Cidade de Deus a whole day after I stopped watching it, it's that effective. If you are one of the few people that haven't seen it, watch it now.