Review of City of God (2002) by Joe C — 04 Aug 2013

I believe that film is art, and someone once said "art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable." An interesting take, but not one I care for. I admit I'm privileged, and I admit there are many, many improvised people living in absolute deplorable conditions around the world. But for me film is an escape from the mundane, materialistic and selfish world, and an escape into the wonder of collaborative story telling.

But once in a while, a reality check is an order, and man oh man, City of God is a strong cup of coffee in the morning. It's the tale of two brothers in the dirt poor and violent slums of Rio de Janeiro, as one becomes a successful photographer, and the other sinks into the world of gangs and drug dealing. And it holds nothing back as it bluntly hits you with the harrowing violence and corruptness of gang violence in the slums.

Make no mistake, City of God's poignancy is of a completely different magnitude. It's a shocking movie, not for it's all out violence, but how intensely depraved and realistic it feels. I never once felt like I was being manipulated into feeling compassion because the writing, directing it's unique approach to storytelling are exquisite. Simply put, City of God looks like a documentary, but doesn't feel like one. Pure genius on Fernando Meirelles' part.

Why does City of God fall one star short of perfection? It may sound unfair and childish, but I didn't enjoy this movie. I know I wasn't supposed to, but I believe enjoyment is a virtue in a movie, and blunt reality belongs elsewhere.