Cidade de Deus (City of God)

The story of the world's most notorious slums, Rio de Janeiro's "City of God". The story of a young man wanting to survive, which means getting out. It is violent, bloody and disturbing, but you can't stop watching. You can't stop watching . . . because it's true.

Based on the life of photographer Wilson Rodrigues, City of God portrays the violent nature of these slums while he was growing up. But it's not just the story of Rodrigues, a.k.a. Rocket, but also Carrot, Lil Zi, Nockout Ned, Benny, the Tender Trio and many others.

The story takes a couple of risks. Spanning 3 decades and many lives, it isn't just one story, but several all coming together and culminating into one moment with a thousand meanings. Also, it uses an all knowing narrator, Rodrigues, looking back on his days as Rocket. But where using these techniques could have made the story disjointed or too revealing of itself, you found these tools pulling you in, giving you more and more of a need to know what's happening. The other great thing about the story was that it is honest. Rocket doesn't get the girl of his dreams, his photography doesn't make his life pristine and unproblematic, and the slums aren’t saved. There is no Hollywood ending, which leaves you still feeling for the people in the slums, because they are still there, and the same problems still exist.

Visually, the movie was dynamic. Vivid colors bring this hell on earth to life. Fast moving cameras, still shots, shotgun (matrix style) shots all bring you along on this emotional roller-coaster of shock and compassion.

There is one particular scene at the end of the movie, which shows that this was not just a violent period for these people, but a culture that has been created for them. I will never forget it.

All in all this was a brilliant movie. An incredible story, we directed and acted (as well as I can judge the acting while reading subtitles), beautifully shot. It's not a movie for the faint of heart, but if you watch it, it will affect you. 5 out of 5 cameras.