First| Previous| Up| Next| Last
City of God (2004)
Front Cover Actor
Alexandre Rodrigues
Leandro Firmino
Phellipe Haagensen
Douglas Silva
Jonathan Haagensen
Matheus Nachtergaele
Seu Jorge
Jefechander Suplino
Alice Braga
Emerson Gomes
Movie Details
Director Fernando Meirelles; Kátia Lund
Language English
Audience Rating R (Restricted)
Running Time 130 mins
Country USA
Color Color
Plot
Like cinematic dynamite, City of God lights a fuse under its squalid Brazilian ghetto, and we're a captive audience to its violent explosion. The titular favela is home to a seething army of impoverished children who grow, over the film's ambitious 20-year timeframe, into cutthroat killers, drug lords, and feral survivors. In the vortex of this maelstrom is L'il Z (Leandro Firmino da Hora--like most of the cast, a nonprofessional actor), self-appointed king of the dealers, determined to eliminate all competition at the expense of his corrupted soul. With enough visual vitality and provocative substance to spark heated debate (and box-office gold) in Brazil, codirectors Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund tackle their subject head on, creating a portrait of youthful anarchy so appalling--and so authentically immediate--that City of God prompted reforms in socioeconomic policy. It's a bracing feat of stylistic audacity, borrowing from a dozen other films to form its own unique identity. You'll flinch, but you can't look away. --Jeff Shannon
Personal Details
Seen It Yes
Index 194
Collection Status In Collection
Links Amazon US
Product Details
Format DVD
Region Region 1
Screen Ratio 1.85:1
UPC (Barcode) 786936223897
Release Date 6/8/2004
Subtitles English; French; Spanish
Nr of Disks/Tapes 1