City of God

Sometimes local theaters pick up foreign films when the do well in the box office. Sometimes they avoid them for fear of low ticket sales. It seems that more often than not, the theaters pick these films up right around the time ole Oscar makes his presence each year. Of course, how many of us really pay attention when they list off the category “Best Foreign Film,” or how many of us have seen all that are nominated? Several years back, a powerful Brazilian film came out, and went to the Oscars. But to this day, it’s underrated and should get some public time. Director Fernando Meirelles, who recently brought us The Constant Gardner, bring us the tale of a slum city near the metropolis of Rio de Janeiro, called the City of God.

The film tells the true story of Rocket, a kid that grows up in the dangerous slum of the City of God. Through multiple storylines, similar to the style of Pulp Fiction, we learn the history of the later famous photographer, and his life in the sixties, and seventies. The story, though told through the narrator’s voice, actually focuses on the city, and the changes that happen due to drug influences, and gang warfare. A dangerous and brutal gang leader Li’l Ze declares a turf war on the other drug dealers in town. Rocket is caught in the middle of the violence in his efforts to become a photographer.

This film is graphic, to say the least. Perhaps that’s why it had such a quiet release when it first hit the theaters back in 2002. The interesting thing about this story is that it is all true. When we, as a culture, see pictures of Iraq, or Somalia, we don’t really relate to the actual day to day violence that occurs. I believe his film achieves this very well, and helps bring us to a level of danger that is most often avoided in film. Though action, and horror films bring us a sense of fear of death, this film demonstrates (the true story of) how dangerous it was to live in the city, and how easily one could be killed by a 7 year old with a gun.

Stylistically, this film is amazing. Each year, some director, or some cinematographer does something new, and adds to the stylistic motif of each film. This is certainly one example. Building off the multi-storyline format of Quinton Tarantino, the director brings us to a level of connection with the film to the point where we can almost taste the dirt in the air kicked up by running mobs. The camera work is superb, consistent and creative: everything needed to prove strong film making talents. Coupled with confidence and no fear of offending audiences, director Meirelles forces the audience to watch children shoot other children, poverty, and depression. Think of the worst possible living conditions, and put it on film. Meirelles captured that.

This is all coupled with a powerful cast. Many of the characters in this true story are actors; however, 50 plus members of the cast were taken straight from the City of God, and asked to participate in this film. It’s authentic, about as authentic as it gets. The actors look like the real people that they represent, and their words, their dialogue fits perfectly into the time period and location. Though the film is filled with profanity, and murder, one can understand the mindsets of the characters, frustrations, and desires.

It’s a dark film. It’s a dirty film. You won’t necessarily feel good after watching it. But after it sinks in, you will, like me, be amazed at the ability of the actors, the skill of the director, and the overall achievement of this film. We all see true stories on the television, and films all the time. But for some reason, they all seem somewhat sugar coated. WW2 films ends with platoons losing loads of men, but there are always lone survivors that we root for. In this film, it’s hard to say that something similar happens. Our hero does become the famous photographer we knew he’d be (just as history tells us) but understanding how he got there, and what the City had to go through to reach the point: that’s the true story, and that’s the accomplishment of this film. Check it out if you’ve got the time, the interest, and the stomach. 8.25 of 10.