City Of God cover art

City Of God Details

2002 DVD Certificate 18.gif
  • Rated:
  • 80
  • from 60,107 members

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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City Of God cover art

City Of God

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 DVD Certificate 18.gif
Genres Drama, Thriller, World Cinema
Language Portuguese
Subtitles English
Released DVD: 21 Jul 2003
Production year: 2002
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (3) of City Of God

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  • 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 »

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    • Tom Charity, 
    • LOVEFiLM

  • Most helpful member's review of City Of God

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  • 155 out of 164 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Worth the Effort

    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!

      • A customer from East Anglia, England
      • Posted 12 Dec 2003 unknown

  • Most recent members' review of City Of God

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    compelling...

    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!

      • A customer from Manchester, England
      • Posted 19 Mar 2006 17:25

  • News and features

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    Sin Nombre

    Sin Nombre

    • Tom Charity
    • 10 Aug 2009

    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

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10,720
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7,701
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4,866
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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 ...