City of God (2002)

City of God (2002) is a raw, fast-paced crime drama set in the notorious slums of Rio de Janeiro from the 1960s through the 1980s. Told through the eyes and voice of Buscapé (Rocket), an aspiring photographer who wants to escape the favela, the film follows how childhood games and petty crime harden into brutal gang warfare. Central to the story are the ruthless rise of Li’l Zé (Zé Pequeno) and the fragile loyalty of his friend Bené, contrasted with Rocket’s determination to document the world around him through a camera instead of becoming part of the violence. The movie shifts across decades in a vivid, often non‑linear narrative, showing how power, poverty, and ambition shape people’s fates. It combines kinetic editing, striking cinematography and moments of dark humor with unflinching depictions of brutality, creating a portrait that is both intimate and epic in scope. Based on a semi‑autobiographical novel, it blends social commentary with character-driven scenes that chart the rise and fall of gang leaders and the collateral damage inflicted on the community. As a viewer you’ll experience an intense, immersive ride: shocking violence and tension balanced by moments of humanity, moral ambiguity, and visual storytelling centered on photography as a means of survival and witness. The film is emotionally powerful and visually unforgettable, leaving you with a haunting sense of how childhood and environment can determine a life’s course.

Actors: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Matheus Nachtergaele

Directors: Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund

Runtime: 130 min

Genres: Crime, Drama

8.4 /10 79 /100 8.6 /10 8.3 /10