Cidade de Deus (2002)

 

Alexandre Rodrigues

Watch the Cidade de Dues (English: City of God) trailer

Writer: Paulo Lins (novel), Bráulio Mantovani (screenplay)

Director: Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund

Notable Actors: Douglas Silva, Alexandre Rodrigues

This is the sort of film which stays in your mind for days afterwards. Not just the story, but the setting, the performances – every single one. I keep a close mind upon the actors in any given shot, and I’ve never before had to sit there and try to work out who I’d single out as being ‘notable’ with this cast. The couple complete standouts are obvious, but perhaps subtly does its best here? Or maybe it’s merely to do with what stands out to me, to a person with my history?

Alright, back to basics: I’ve not seen a majority of films. Of course, neither have you, even if you doth protest. Think about all those movies, in all those years and in all those languages. Alright? The advantage you’ll have over me, of course, is that you’ll likely have seen all the famous crime-genre flicks this is often compared to. What I’m trying to tell you is that my experience may be undermined by the fact that this is all new to me.

Similarly, I understand there is a truthfulness behind this I am blind to, even having now seen the film. Where this extends to I do not know, only that Knockout Ned was real. Attempts to find things out have proven fruitless, due to my inability to understand anything other than English and a smattering of German and French.

What I do know is that this film is incredible. That every single performance, even for those on screen for no more than a few minutes, will stay with you. The landscape and storylines will stay with you. The relationships, the personalities, the deaths...every last one will stay with you.

At just 130 minutes, this film goes on forever in the most wonderful way. The method used to weave its tale is perfect, and at no moment do you sit there wishing there was something better to do. Indeed, as the credits role there is a hunger for more but a needing knowing that there is no more you can take.

I need to go get this on DVD so I can re-appreciate every single minute. I also need City of Men – both the series and movie. Quick.