My Favorite Film - City of God

Based on a true story, Cidade de Deus (City of God) is truly an epic tale in which one young man, against all odds, avoids the typical life of crime and violence and finds a way out of the slums of Rio de Janeiro.

City of God takes place over two decades (the sixties and the seventies). In this epic tale there are many characters and most of them play important roles, but overall I would say there are two main characters. Rocket, played by Alexandre Rodrigues, the young man who does not want to partake in this life of crime but, at the same time, is poor and wants to get out of the City of God. The other would be li’l Ze, played by Leandro Firmino, the villain who’s thirst for blood, money, and power ultimately lead to his downfall.

The film begins in the sixties and right away the crime begins. Rocket being a young man never partakes in any crimes but Li’l Ze on the other hand is always the center of these criminal activities. He starts off as a boy following around and participating with older boys known as hoods. One day when one of the hoods die there is a man photographing the body and that is when Rocket discovers what he wants to do with his life.

As the film progresses the li’l Ze goes from simple hold ups to becoming the head of a massive drug business in Rio de Janero. Eventually li’l Ze’s greed and anger lead him to raping the wrong guy’s girl, trying to take over the wrong guy's business, and an all out war in the slum.

Rocket ends up getting a job delivering newspapers and when he asks a friend at his job to develop a roll of film for him someone finds a picture of li’l Ze and his gang posing with guns and she publishes it on the front page. Apparently no reporters can go into the City of God because it is too dangerous so they tell Rocket if he can get more photos then he will have the job as a photographer and an ultimate way out of the slum.

Many people in which I have encountered will dismiss any foreign film before they see it just based on the fact they do not want to go through the minor effort of reading subtitles. I truly feel sorry for these people because this is my favorite movie and I truly believe that it is one of the greatest films of all time.

Nominated for an Academy Award for best director Fernando Meirelles has created a Masterpiece. The way he manipulates different shots is extraordinary. For example there is a shot at the beginning of the film of Rocket as a teenager and the camera spins around him until it is back to the sixties and there is a younger Rocket playing soccer on a dirt field which creates a really cool effect. Also he uses a lot of different techniques such as split shots and overhead views that really enhance the film.

The film is fast paced with action and violence and it tells a remarkable story. With corrupt cops, crime and violence being a way of life it is truly inspirational that this young man could make it out and eventually say “my name isn’t Rocket anymore. I’m now Wilson Rodrigues, photographer.”