One of the great things about movies is that they can take you to times and places you have never been and show you ways of life that are so different from your own that you gain a whole new perspective on life. “City of God” is such a movie. Through the eyes of the narrator Buscape, the film shows the life in a Brazilian favela called “Cidade de Deus” from the 1960s till the 1980s. That life is basically a cycle of poverty, crime, violence, and corruption and the chances of escaping the favela are very slim. The film is fascinating, horrifying, depressing, and thought provoking. Especially the depiction of child criminals is very shocking.
As far as I know, “City of God” is the first Brazilian movie I have seen, and I am really impressed by its quality. It is very immersive and has brilliant storytelling, great cinematography and editing, and fascinating characters, including a fantastic villain. The acting performances are all great, even though most actors had no or only little acting experience beforehand. “City of God” combines several genres. It is a coming of age story, a drama, social commentary, and a thrilling crime epos comparable to “GoodFellas”.
All in all, a really impressive movie. Highly recommended.