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From Amazon.co.uk
Like cinematic dynamite, City of God lights a fuse under its squalid Brazilian ghetto, and we're a captive audience to its violent explosion. The titular favela is home to a seething army of impoverished children who grow, over the film's ambitious 20-year time frame, into cut-throat killers, drug lords and feral survivors. In the vortex of this maelstrom is L'il Z (Leandro Firmino da Hora--like most of the cast, a non-professional actor), self-appointed king of the dealers, determined to eliminate all competition at the expense of his corrupted soul. With enough visual vitality and provocative substance to spark heated debate (and box-office gold) in Brazil, codirectors Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund tackle their subject head on, creating a portrait of youthful anarchy so appalling--and so authentically immediate--that City of God prompted reforms in socioeconomic policy. It's a bracing feat of stylistic audacity, borrowing from a dozen other films to form its own unique identity. You'll flinch, but you can't look away. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
Using street kids straight from the Cidade de Deus slum outside Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Meirelles' film is based on actual events that happened in the slum. The story, revealed by Buscape - a street kid who decides to become a photojournalist when he discovers he is not cut out to become a villain - revolves around the shadowy world of drugs and the violence which increases with each generation. Li'l Ze has grown up to become a natural-born-killer and attempt to take over the drugs trade of the city. However, this sparks a turf war which is photographed by Buscape, making the war famous.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Harry Heslop
Format:DVD
I am a strong believer in that the best of films are often subtitle films, and this is just one of them. The film explores the difficult lives of different people in 'The City of God', all of which are in some way linked to one boy, called 'Rocket'.
The film captures the darker side of life in Rio De Janeiro, and what a lot of families have to go through, the drugs that rule the city and the rogue children that get lost along the way and end up as criminals.
I strongly recommend anyone who hasn't seen this, to watch it. For the people who are put off films with subtitles, this could just be the film that will change your outlook forever.
The film captures the darker side of life in Rio De Janeiro, and what a lot of families have to go through, the drugs that rule the city and the rogue children that get lost along the way and end up as criminals.
I strongly recommend anyone who hasn't seen this, to watch it. For the people who are put off films with subtitles, this could just be the film that will change your outlook forever.
27 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By Kit
Format:DVD
I was disappointed that this film is being labelled the new Goodfellas. This film is in a different league to Goodfellas or any other 'gangster' film. I understand that many of the Amercian or English mob movies usually end with the death of the gangsters but I have always regarded them as sensationalising organised crime and making the life of the gangster look fairly attractive to persons with certain dispositions.
City of God is I think more representative of real street crime between kids and men in the slums of Brazil, Nigeria, Somalia, or even some streets in the more developed world.
City of God explains that criminality and murder is not a choice, it is a way of life; the only means of survival. In films like Scarface or Goodfellas the life of a gangster provided the option for the greedy and evil.
City of God is far superior because it shows that for some war is life, and no matter how good a person may be circumstances make people bad. I was astonished by the direction in the film and the way the story developed. The scenes were extraordinary and frighetening. City of God is faultless and the ultimate cinema exposition of criminality.
City of God is I think more representative of real street crime between kids and men in the slums of Brazil, Nigeria, Somalia, or even some streets in the more developed world.
City of God explains that criminality and murder is not a choice, it is a way of life; the only means of survival. In films like Scarface or Goodfellas the life of a gangster provided the option for the greedy and evil.
City of God is far superior because it shows that for some war is life, and no matter how good a person may be circumstances make people bad. I was astonished by the direction in the film and the way the story developed. The scenes were extraordinary and frighetening. City of God is faultless and the ultimate cinema exposition of criminality.
25 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. J. WARE
Format:DVD
From the opening chicken chase to the closing, bloody gunfights, City of God is a wonder to behold. It will entertain and it will shock in equal measure throughout it's tragic 2 hour running time.
It tells the story of Rocket, who just wants to get by in life. He wants to earn money, lose his virginity and become a photographer. He doesn't want to become a hoodlum, which in the city of God is a hard thing to try and avoid. As we watch events unfold, the lives of a group of hoodlums interact and intertwine with each other.
The performances are brilliant, and as I understand it, all were unknowns. Each character is so detailed and humanised, they feel real. When someone is insulted, you feel insulted with them, when someone is put in a questionable situation, you feel the pressure and influences with them.
What is even more memorable is the tragic consequences the events in this film have on its characters. Some scenes are hard to watch - like when one character has to choose between two different children, and kill one of them to become a part of a gang. Others, like the misunderstanding of main hood Lil Ze and his right hand man which has fatal consequences. It's all vital, and hard to pull your eyes off the screen.
It's a Brazilian film, spoken in a foreign tongue, so you will have to read subtitles, but for a serious film watcher that shouldn't be a problem, as this is an essential film to watch.
It all leads to an expected gang land war - how else do these sort of films end, crime doesn't pay! - that is violent, brutal and soul destroying. It's hard to write the words to explain the vast emotions you feel while watching this film, and is thus indispensible.
The DVD comes with a vague, slightly interesting featurette. But most haunting of all is the words that crop up during the credits: Based on real events.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
An amazing film - so good that I've started buying extra copies for...
Such a good film! The story is absolutely captivating and the subtitles really don't bother you at all, in fact the use of the dialect in Portuguese brings it an added authenticity... Read more
Published 2 days ago by MR ALISTAIR ALDRIDGE
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great film
Bought this for my husband as a birthday present and it is a really good film. Would definitely recommend it to anyone...except maybe my nan and my kids!
Published 3 months ago by Mrs.M
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fab!
This film is definitely not for the faint hearted, not my usual choice of film however i was recommended to watch it.... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Miss N A Evans
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent film
Really good film. As long as you can deal with subtitles its a gripping and emotional tale of a boy growing up in the slums of Rio.
Published 6 months ago by Stephen Page
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
From the first moment you know this is something a bit different, not only is it fast paced and exciting but the story is interesting from start to finish. Read more
Published 6 months ago by C. Jack
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic....this will go down as one of my all time favourites....
this kept me glued to the screen the whole way through and will be one of those films that I will watch over and over again. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Gilly
5.0 out of 5 stars
masterpiece of cinema
the greatest film of all time ,brilliantly shot ,fantastic story ,action ,drama ,heart wrenching ,gut busting gangster flick set in the slums of rio ,the acting by the street kids... Read more
Published 13 months ago by A. M. Barsby
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favourite ever film.
Action, drama, adventure, love, a brilliant soundtrack and cinematography. It has a great story and some unbelievably convincing acting at times. My number 1 film.
Published 13 months ago by Ron
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing film
No much to add. This is an amazing film for a really good price. Love it and I would recommend to everybody. It is really violent tho. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Steffie
5.0 out of 5 stars
City of God the definitive gangster epic
If you want a definitive gangster film, this is it. Shot in the rambling favela's of Rio de Janeiro the film spans several decades following the lives, struggles and fortunes of... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mj Watson
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