City of God (2002)

In the slums of Rio, two kids' paths diverge as one struggles to become a photographer and the other a kingpin.

Directors:

Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund (co-director)

Writers:

Paulo Lins (novel), Bráulio Mantovani (screenplay)

Stars:

Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Matheus Nachtergaele

Top Rated Movies #22 | Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 74 wins & 42 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alexandre Rodrigues	...	Buscapé - Rocket
Leandro Firmino	...	Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé (as Leandro Firmino da Hora)
Phellipe Haagensen	...	Bené - Benny
Douglas Silva	...	Dadinho - Li'l Dice
Jonathan Haagensen	...	Cabeleira - Shaggy
Matheus Nachtergaele	...	Sandro Cenoura - Carrot
Seu Jorge	...	Mané Galinha - Knockout Ned
Jefechander Suplino	...	Alicate - Clipper
Alice Braga	...	Angélica
Emerson Gomes	...	Barbantinho - Stringy
Edson Oliveira	...	Barbantinho Adulto - Older Stringy
Michel Gomes	...	Bené Criança - Young Benny (as Michel De Souza Gomes)
Roberta Rodrigues	...	Berenice - Bernice
Luis Otávio	...	Buscapé Criança - Young Rocket
Kiko Marques	...	Cabeção - Melonhead (as Maurício Marques)

Storyline

Brazil, 1960s, City of God. The Tender Trio robs motels and gas trucks. Younger kids watch and learn well...too well. 1970s: Li'l Zé has prospered very well and owns the city. He causes violence and fear as he wipes out rival gangs without mercy. His best friend Bené is the only one to keep him on the good side of sanity. Rocket has watched these two gain power for years, and he wants no part of it. Yet he keeps getting swept up in the madness. All he wants to do is take pictures. 1980s: Things are out of control between the last two remaining gangs...will it ever end? Welcome to the City of God.

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Plot Keywords:

photographer | slum | gang | brazil | favela | 

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Taglines:

If you run it will get you. If you stay it will eat you.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong brutal violence, sexuality, drug content and language

Details

Official Sites:

lighthouse pictures [Singapore] (English) Mars Distribution (French)

Country:

Brazil France Germany

Language:

Portuguese

Release Date:

13 February 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

City of God

Filming Locations:

Cidade de Deus, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Box Office

Budget:

$3,300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$88,292, 19 January 2003

Gross USA:

$7,564,459

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$30,680,793

Company Credits

Production Co:

O2 Filmes, VideoFilmes, Globo Filmes

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min 135 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Voted movie of the year by Empire magazine in 2003. It would be six years before another foreign-language film topped the list: Let the Right One In (2008).

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Goofs

Lil' Ze is taken into custody by the police, Rocket runs after the police truck. The Police truck passes by a late - model Chevrolet S10, black, circa 2001. The movie is set in the seventies.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Zé Pequeno: Whoa, the chicken ran away. Get that chicken, dude!

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Crazy Credits

The closing credits shows pictures of the main actors, their name, their character's name and pictures of the real life characters (for the ones based on existing people).

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Alternate Versions

The UK DVD displays the decade titles in English rather than Portuguese.

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Connections

Featured in 50 Films to See Before You Die (2006)

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Soundtracks

Kung Fu Fighting
Written by Carl Douglas
Performed by Carl Douglas
Schacht Music Inc. / Editora Femata / Sanctuary Records Group Inc.

User Reviews

Raw and cult film

I agree with the other positive reviews here. I just saw this again after 15 years - still far exceeds anything made today when it comes to struggles of troubled youth in urban slums plagued by drugs and violence. So raw. So shocking to the system. Highly recommended!