Review of City of God (2002) by Cameron H — 19 May 2017

I confess to a favourable bias for films about journalism, but for City of God, the subject is not that relevant to why I love it. The rapid-fire cinematography and truthful performances of ghetto life in Rio are the main appeal for me.

That being said, I empathize greatly with the protagonist Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues). He likes people too much to cause direct harm; unlike myself, Rocket has been under many circumstances that would explain why he would harm others, if he did, but he doesn't.

The closest he comes is watching someone get killed and taking pictures of the person's body for his job. That's as far as revenge ever goes for him. The other characters are as equally interesting.

There is Lil Ze (Leandro Firmino da Hora), so sociopathically absorbed in the gangster life that he finds zero pleasure in anything other than asserting dominance. By his side is his near opposite Benny (Phellipe Haagensen), still a killer and product of a poor environment but aims to use his wealth and power for helping those who once struggled with him.

Knockout Ned (Seu Jorge) may be my favourite. Breaking Bad had five seasons worth of time to transform a weak, but caring man into an unapologetic killer. City of God similarly transforms Knockout Ned in one movie.

Heck, honestly, it was done in one especially compelling minute of the movie. And that minute was practically a montage, albeit with some narration over the robberies. Much credit to director Fernando Meirelles for making that work, with what could be described as journalistic integrity.

Okay, I take it back. What I love about my favourite news documentaries is much like what I love about City of God. But you know what City of God has over the documentaries? Excitement. Humour. Refusal to compromise.