City of God
Little do movies come with such praise and if you ever want a movie to hook you into world cinema than City of God is probably the one for you. Not only those it feature high on the lists of Empire and Time Out’s best foreign movies of all time, but it always takes a great ranking for cinema as a whole. Indeed, it definitely isn’t a film that should be brushed aside because it is in Portuguese and subtitles (and if you are one of the people who do that then leave this site with your head hung in shame.) City of God then, is perhaps, one of the greatest films of all time and honestly, it will blow you away.
Based in Rio De Jinero and the heart of its slums, City of God is loosely based on a true story. Revolving around the point of the view of narrator Rocket. He is a child of the slums, otherwise known as the titular name, and he wants to escape to become a photographer. However, getting a life outside of slums is difficult. Unfortunately, a villainous leader has grown up to cause more trouble and a war is poising to break out and if Rocket wants to escape, he best get out now. Director Fernando Meirelles who went on to direct The Constant Gardner creates a thrilling piece here
There are a lot of roots to go down with City of God and Meirelles takes the most enthralling one. By chosing Rocket’s narration throughout a time period be purely character based. While the guns and violence are there, it is very rarely made for titillation. Instead, the narration and therefore the film takes you behind the eyes of those criminals. Though many often commit insanely heinous acts, there is still a child behind them and you can’t help but emphasize with them. Add this to the ensemble cast who truly excel in their roles and City of God becomes this gritty and realistic
There is definitely that feel of Trainspotting and Pulp Fiction here. That kind of narrative that switches and swaps from one violent timeline to the next. What it isn’t, is glamorous and instead, pulls you into the terrors and life of the Brazilian slums. It never offers understand nor condemnation, but it lays naked a pulse of violence and gun totting hoodlums who hold the slum hostage. It is aching and visceral and adrenaline filled that will push a bloodstream of exciting fear through your body.
City of God is a phenomenal movie that will have you completely jaw-dropped at the end. It takes the brilliant and sun filled life of Rio and then drags you to the blood soaked reality of it. While the violence saturates the film it is still necessary and at some parts, beautifully done. You will never be able to drag your eyes off it, more importantly, you will never want to. It is a stunning movie that is not to be missed from anyone’s collection.