Two features. Youth gangs took over the slums of Rio de Janiero during the 1960s and didn't relinquish their stronghold until the mid-1980s. Only a sucker wouldn't have turned to crime and this is exactly how naive teen Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues) views himself in 'City Of God'. His attempts in illegal activity fail as he .. Read more
| Starring | Matheus Nachtergaele, Seu Jorge, Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino da Hora |
|---|---|
| Director | Katia Lund, Fernando Meirelles |
| Genres | Drama, Thriller, World Cinema |
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Two features. Youth gangs took over the slums of Rio de Janiero during the 1960s and didn't relinquish their stronghold until the mid-1980s. Only a sucker wouldn't have turned to crime and this is exactly how naive teen Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues) views himself in 'City Of God'. His attempts in illegal activity fail as he finds potential victims too friendly. Equally unsuccessful in love, he regularly fails to lose his virginity. Blood spills throughout the streets of the Ciudad de Deus as gang leader Li'l Ze (Douglas Silva) is challenged by local druglords and a gang of pre-teens known as the Runts. Rocket shoots all of this action with his weapon of choice, a camera. Director Fernando Meirelles combines visual flashiness with dark history in telling the story of three decades of unrest in underground Rio de Janiero. Technically flawless, the Brazilian film uses a rapid-cutting style to flash back and forth in time. Cinematographer Cesar Charlone shoots with an overexposed glow in a film that may seem numb to violence, but reveres photography. Director Meirelles was assisted by Kaita Lund, a filmmaker who had previously shot in the Rio ghettos. Also includes 'Hero'.
| Starring | Matheus Nachtergaele, Seu Jorge, Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino da Hora |
|---|---|
| Director | Katia Lund, Fernando Meirelles |
| Studio | WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 15 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama, Thriller, World Cinema |
| Language | Portuguese |
| Subtitles | English |
| Released | DVD: 21 Jul 2003 Production year: 2002 |
| Format | DVD |
Actually this extra is included with 'City of God' on the one and only disc, but it's such a good one it's a shame if people overlook it. ' News From a Personal War ' is a 1999... read more »
I have to be honest I put the film on and saw the subtitles, played around on the DVD trying to find the english soundtrack, no joy. Oh well might as well keep it on while I finish my cup of tea. Two hours later I sat there gob smacked. The photograpthy throughout was superb, acting just as good. But its the story that grips you, from start to finish. Reading the subtitles is no longer a chore. If you have never watched a subtitled movie before (like myself) I can wholeheartedly recommend giving this one a go!
The film is absolutely compelling, from the first frame til the last... Excruciatingly violent, but necessarily so, and not once glorifying the violence.
This is essential viewing.
Especially worth a look is an excellent accompanying documentary by Walter Salles (in the Extras menu). This 1-hour documentary is of such high quality that I think it deserves its own cinema release, not hidden away on the extras!
Rent this now!
Emigrating to the US legally is hard enough, as the recent Angelino drama Crossing Over was at pains to illustrate. Illegally, it’s twice as tough. And if that makes you wonder why so many people risk their lives to do so, Sin Nombre offers a few clues. Produced by Gael Garcia Bernal, no less, this bleakly compelling movie tells parallel stories that converge. In one, we see Chiapas teenager Willy, aka Casper (Edgar Flores), a member of the intimidating Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13 gang.... Read more