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Cidade de Deus (2002)
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Overview
User Rating:
Directors:
Writers:
Release Date:
2002 (Russia)
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Tagline:
If you run you're dead...if you stay, you're dead again. Period. more
Plot:
Two boys growing up in a violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro take different paths: one becomes a photographer, the other a drug dealer. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
City Of God
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Photographer
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Violence
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1960s
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Growing Up
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Awards:
Nominated for 4 Oscars.
Another 55 wins
&
25 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(32 articles)
The Best Films of the Decade (aka "The Naughties")
(From The Hollywood Interview. 8 December 2009, 2:26 AM, PST)
My decade: personal perspectives from key arts figures
(From The Guardian - Film News. 7 December 2009, 9:03 AM, PST)
(From The Hollywood Interview. 8 December 2009, 2:26 AM, PST)
My decade: personal perspectives from key arts figures
(From The Guardian - Film News. 7 December 2009, 9:03 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Gangs of Rio
more (587 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Alexandre Rodrigues | ... | Buscapé - Rocket | |
| Leandro Firmino | ... | Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé (as Leandro Firmino da Hora) | |
| Phellipe Haagensen | ... | Bené - Benny | |
| Douglas Silva | ... | Dadinho - Li'l Dice | |
| Jonathan Haagensen | ... | Cabeleira - Shaggy | |
| Matheus Nachtergaele | ... | Sandro Cenoura - Carrot | |
| Seu Jorge | ... | Mané Galinha - Knockout Ned | |
| Jefechander Suplino | ... | Alicate - Clipper | |
| Alice Braga | ... | Angélica | |
| Emerson Gomes | ... | Barbantinho - Stringy | |
| Edson Oliveira | ... | Barbantinho Adulto - Older Stringy | |
| Michel de Souza | ... | Bené Criança - Young Benny (as Michel De Souza Gomes) | |
| Roberta Rodrigues | ... | Berenice - Bernice | |
| Luis Otávio | ... | Buscapé Criança - Young Rocket | |
| Maurício Marques | ... | Cabeção - Melonhead |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
City of God (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
God's Town (International: English title)
La cité de Dieu (France)
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God's Town (International: English title)
La cité de Dieu (France)
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MPAA:
Rated R for strong brutal violence, sexuality, drug content and language.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
130 min | Canada:135 min (Toronto International Film Festival)
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:16 |
Singapore:M18 (video rating) (version 2) |
Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) |
South Korea:18 |
Israel:16 |
Argentina:16 |
Australia:R |
Brazil:16 |
Finland:K-18 |
France:-16 |
Germany:16 (bw) |
Hong Kong:III |
Italy:T |
Japan:R-15 |
Netherlands:16 |
New Zealand:R18 |
Norway:15 |
Peru:18 |
Philippines:R-18 |
Portugal:M/16 |
Singapore:R(A) (original rating) (cut) |
Spain:18 |
Sweden:15 |
Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) |
UK:18 |
USA:R |
Singapore:R21
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
When we hear Buscapé (Alexandre Rodrigues) talking to Marina (Graziela Moretto) about how "he never took a hot bath", that was not scripted. Actually, that was Rodrigues and Moretto talking off camera, during a pause in the shooting, when the boy (who lived on the slums) was telling her about his life.
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Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When Knockout Ned is yelling over the dead boy, the body is breathing.
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Quotes:
Cabeleira:
Hey, Bernice. Listen, I've got something real important to say. Tell me, you ever heard of love at first sight?
Berenice: Sure, but hoods don't fall in love, they just get horny.
Cabeleira: C'mon, you cut everything I say to pieces.
Berenice: Hoods don't talk, they just vomit words.
Cabeleira: Jesus, I'm gonna stop wasting my saliva on you, you sure ain't easy.
Berenice: Hoods never stop, they just take a break.
Cabeleira: Jeez, Bernice, talking about love with you is pretty complicated, isn't it?
Berenice: Love, you gotta be kidding. You're just leading me on.
Cabeleira: But it's just that this jerk here loves you.
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Berenice: Sure, but hoods don't fall in love, they just get horny.
Cabeleira: C'mon, you cut everything I say to pieces.
Berenice: Hoods don't talk, they just vomit words.
Cabeleira: Jesus, I'm gonna stop wasting my saliva on you, you sure ain't easy.
Berenice: Hoods never stop, they just take a break.
Cabeleira: Jeez, Bernice, talking about love with you is pretty complicated, isn't it?
Berenice: Love, you gotta be kidding. You're just leading me on.
Cabeleira: But it's just that this jerk here loves you.
more
Movie Connections:
References Orfeu Negro (1959)
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Soundtrack:
So Very Hard to Go
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FAQ
Is this movie based on a novel?A Note Regarding Spoilers
The gang of Children that gun down Lil' Ze at the end frequently mention the formation of a "Red" gang. Is there any significance to this?
more
more (587 total)
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If you're unlucky to be born into a socially, economically and racially isolated community that has poverty, crime, drugs and violence as its everyday realities, the odds are stacked incredibly high against you. It literally takes so much effort, strength, struggle and plain ol' good fortune to simply avoid becoming a gangster, let alone do anything more with life. Most who find themselves in the situation described above never even enter this fight and out of those that do - only the rare ones succeed.
"City of God" depicts this conundrum masterfully.
In a Rio slum called Cidade de Deus we meet character after character that has the right idea, knowledge and courage to get out but somehow always ends up being pulled right back into this vicious circle. Becoming a hoodlum in Cidade de Deus isn't just a fringe career option for disenchanted rebels and social outcasts - it's the main industry.
The images of gun toting pre-teen killers are very disturbing and Meirelles uses them relentlessly to underscore just how hopeless and frighteningly predetermined life is for these kids. Many of them can't read or write but already know how to use a gun and kill without remorse. In a particularly harrowing scene, local drug lord Ze Pequeno or Lil' Ze (Leandro Firmino da Hora) exacts revenge on a disobedient gang of 9 and 10 year olds by incapacitating two of them and forcing one of his own kid soldiers, as initiation of sorts, to choose which one of the two he wants to kill. Faced with death, one of the kids starts crying crocodile tears; suddenly all the bravado is gone and he is shown for what he truly is - a desperately misdirected infant.
'If only these people had more options....' is the sentiment reinforced with every gruesome event.
Of course, this lifestyle comes a little more naturally to some than to others. Ze Pequeno, for example, from an early age when he was known as Dadinho / Lil' Dice shows a considerable lack of aversion to blood and death. In another aptly choreographed scene so that we don't know what exactly happened until much later, he more than 'holds his own' alongside much older gangsters during a motel stickup.
Also on hand is a colourful palette of characters. From our narrator Buscape / Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues) whose ticket out of the slum is his love of photography over to people like laidback Bene / Benny (Philippe Haagensen), followed by Ze's fierce rival Cenoura / Carrot (Matheus Nachtergaele) or good guy turned bad (although it's not so simple) Mane Galinha / Knockout Ned (Seu Jorge) we see a multidimensional, pulsating, alive community that seems in need of a strong, sustained outside push to finally stop chasing its own tail and get out of this destructive cycle.