Alexandre Rodrigues, Daniel Zettel, Douglas Silva

Cidade de Deus (City of God) is a housing project built in the 1960's that--in the early 80's--became one of the most dangerous places in Rio de Janeiro. The tale tells the stories of many characters ...( read more  read more... )whose lives sometimes intersect. However, all is seen through the eyes of a singular narrator: Busca-Pé, a poor black youth too frail and scared to become an outlaw, but also too smart to be content with underpaid, menial jobs. He grows up in a very violent environment. The odds are all against him. But Busca-Pé soon discovers that he can see reality differently than others. His redemption is that he's been given an artist's point of view as a keen-eyed photographer. As Busca-Pé is not the real protagonist of the film--only the narrator--he is not the one who makes the decisions that will determine the sequence of events. Nevertheless, not only his life is attached to what happens in the story, but it is also through Busca-Pé's perspective of life that one can understand the complicated layers and humanity of a world, apparently condemned to endless violence.

Flixster Users

97% liked it

216,066 ratings

Critics

92% liked it

147 critics

R, 2 hrs. 13 min.

Directed by: Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund

Release Date: January 17, 2003

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DVD Release Date: June 8, 2004

Stats: 17,227 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (17,227)


  • November 14, 2009
    I was absolutely engrossed in this story from beginning to end. The only knock on this film is that it most likely put a dent in Brazil's tourist trade. Simply outstanding cinema.
  • September 16, 2009
    An extraordinary and quite brutal film about the youth in Brazil. It's powerful stuff and sadly based on real life. Highly recommended viewing!
  • April 26, 2009
    I was shocked to see such small children committing such horrifying acts of violence.
  • March 14, 2009
    astounding film. brilliant camera work, excellent acting, and a stunning story.
  • February 22, 2009
    Welcome to the world... the City of God. Founded in 1960 in the southern corner of Rio De Janiero, used as a slum housing area for immigrants and the poor. A place that was supposed to be a symbol of peace and freedom.


    No.


    Welcome to the dark world of ...( read more)crime, drugs, violence and cruelty to which there is no escape. Rocket is a young boy living with his parents and older brother, growing up in the city, and watching the city grow around him. Torn between the need to make it out and successful, but seeing that the most likley way is through crime, he finally gets his unexpected break through sheer blind luck and the audacity of the criminals to which his life revolves around. Seeing his brother growing up as a hood and getting killed, seeing drugs destroy people, and seeing how the greed and thirst for blood and power can destroy a world, he becomes the observer through his narrative, eyes and ears and the lens of his camera. The narrator of life in this modern hell, fuelled by the desire for success and survival.


    Its gruesome, brutal, tough and not even the tough survive, only the smart ones. The movie revovles around the history of City of God as a cesspool of degenerates and debauchery, from Rocket's peers becoming the Kingpins of Crime, to the rise of kindergaten kids weilding weapons, consuming drugs and terrorising the innocent. Noone is safe... and its ironic to see that the world Rocket wants no part of, is the world which will bring him his glory.


    Its easy to lose yourself in this film, which is exactly the way I like it. forget you are at home watching this, you are too busy living 30 years into the past in another world, a world which did exist and still exists to this very day. The lure of power and greed is something noone can resist if you lived and breathed these boys and men, and how could you turn away, if all you had was your pride and will?


    Its authentic and unnatural at the same time... Ive seen war zones and my share of slums in movies and life, and this is no exception. I guess the info about the director and crew using the real settings and real "favelahs" to star in the film, are true. How else could it be so damn real?? Or surreal... I wish I could sit on the beautiful golden beach with a hot girl... but then again I wouldn't want to do a full 180 in a second and stare down a pistol. Life changes as easy as a flip of the coin.


    Whats pretty shocking, or cool, is the protrayl of young boys hardend at an early age to drugs, death and crime. We see boys no older than 8-10 year old pulling the trigger, swearing, smoking pot and at the end, symbolsing the never ending cycle of hell as they take over after the bloody climax.


    Guns, blood, sex and drugs, its the 60's to 70's at its worst. And one of the best foriegn language films ever.



    If I had a pet ape, he'd give four thumbs up.
  • November 18, 2009
    Not as brilliant as I was expected.
  • November 14, 2009
    Inquietante, excelente, vivas ao Meirelles! Me deu insônia O.O

    A violęncia era indispensável ŕ história - excelente modo de mostar aos pequenos e grandes burgueses uma realidade que eles deliberadamente ignoram e pela qual săo em grande parte responsáveis.
  • November 12, 2009
    Best Film 2002 - Best Directing 2002 - Best Foreign language film 2002 - Best Film Editing 2002
  • November 10, 2009
    Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund's film City of God (Portuguese: Cidade de Deus) is a crime drama film. The film depicts around 20 years of the life of a boy living in one of the slums of Rio de Janeiro known as the City of God. While just about everyone associated with him is a...( read more) violent gang member, the protagonist is not a criminal and dreams of being a photojournalist. The film is a sort of coming-of-age film as it shows the character growing up and the troubles he tries to overcome. Overall, the film's plot tends to be mostly outstanding.

    The film stars mostly a bunch of no-name actors who grew up in the slums of Brazil, some of whom in the actual City of God. In this respect the film is a lot like Bicycle Thieves and just like in that film the acting tends to be rather good.

    Given the dearth of world-renowned films from Brazil it goes without saying that this is one of the better Brazilian films ever made. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards (amazingly, it was not nominated for best foreign language film) winning none. The film is well-received by critics and fans alike (it currently ranks 16th on the IMDB's top 250 film list). While the film probably isn't one of the 20 greatest films ever, it is well-deserving of all of the accolades it has received and is certainly one of the better films of this decade.

    92.5/100
    A-
  • November 5, 2009
    Yeah this movie is awesome but violant

Critic Reviews


January 24, 2003
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

A shocking, deeply disturbing film made with great passion. full review

January 24, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Breathtaking and terrifying, urgently involved with its characters, it announces a new director of great gifts and passions: Fernando Meirelles. full review

January 24, 2003
David Edelstein, Slate

The film is far from a work of art, but it marks the emergence of a great new action superchef. full review

January 9, 2003
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Sometimes a movie comes along that just floors you, its images burn so deeply. full review

View more Cidade de Deus, (City of God) reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • adikarma
    October 18, 2007
    throw all your godfather collection into the drain because this movie makes them gay.

    if romper stomper ever set their foots in this Rio slums .. i bet they only last for 2 minutes. instant noodle for Lil` Ze .. the most notorious evil character I've ever seen in my life.

    go tell 'blood in , blood out' keep their master plan in the toilet bowl. because Brazilian dude don't had a plan. they shoot you before you even try to think.

    and if any movie directors in Hollywood want to make a gangster movie ,go watch this movie. Hit this with a better one. I bet my ass they can't.

    if any other can be even close to this is Danzel Washinton`s 'Man of Fire'. but just the second half of the movie . Unlike city of gods , man of fire start too slow... way too slow.

  • hunter450a
    July 22, 2007
    do any ov you know if there ws a run upto this film
  • beastify
    May 13, 2007
    Hi guys, im sure some of you are aware of the City of Men movie sequel out later this year, heres a website for the trailer. its looking like another excellent movie, with that unique style of directing, and camera work. (it may take some time to load)

    http://www.lumina-films.com/Promo_CDH.mpg
  • seanmc05
    March 30, 2007
    I watched this a few days ago it's a real eye opener on how life is In Rio in the the Flavellas, highly recommended to watch.
  • ofigueroa
    March 22, 2007
    THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE , IS LIKE A BRAZILIAN SCARE FACE I RECOMENDED, MUST SEE
  • Deliciousbrainz
    March 2, 2007
    An Xcellent film by any1's standards. More than deserving ov all the accolaides it pikked up in 2003. :)
  • mrbungle782
    November 3, 2006
    Simply put, this is indeed one of the greatest films you will ever see. If that isn't enough to persuade people to watch, I don't know what is.
  • Akrylik
    May 31, 2006
    One of the many masterpieces of the moving image world. City of God tells us a story of two boys living in the same violent neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro. If you ever think Rio de Janeiro, think Christ the Redeemer. Totally wrong. This movie shows the real truth, and not the delusions of the realm.

    One of the two boys eventually becomes a photographer while the other plants his career in drugs; and eventually establises his own mafia. He fights his way up to the very top without knowing the real meaning of life.

    The story is told, and re-told from different points of view. This will always be a movie that someone would want to watch over and over again, and will be remembered as a legend. Who cares to what people say about the movie not being in English. Them and their Hollywood will never achieve something like this. Nevertheless, Fernando Mirelles, a legend in moviemaking.

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Cidade de Deus, (City of God) Trivia


  • It translates into 'Cidade de Deus', but what is the English title of this 2001 smash hit directed by Fernando Meirelles?  Answer »
  • What movie includes characters named Carrot, Goose, Steak and Fries, Melonhead, Stringy, Clipper, Rocket, Li'l Dice, Shaggy, Blacky, Shorty, and Knockout Ned?  Answer »

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