City Of God DVD > Reviews > Best film ive seen in a few years

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Good
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	True story, powerful
Disadvantages:	Forced to choose one  .  .  .  . its not in English

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I decided to watch this film after reading its review in Uncut magazine. Its a true story about a boy called Rocket growing up in the brazilian shanty town known as the City of God. Surrounded by a life of poverty and crime the film is based around the way its inhabitants made ends meet during their life (sometimes short) in the city.

The film, i imagine, was a cult hit in Brazil and surely would have been elsewhere if it had been in English although watching a film with subtitles was surprisingly easier than i had previously thought.

Right from the very start the link between everyday life and crime is emphasised when a gang head off in the middle of a game of football to rob a gas truck then join back in with the game a few minutes afterwards. Links between friends and family and loss of loved ones is another strong theme thoughout.

The main character Rocket manages to stay fairly clear from the drugs and violent crimes most people he knows got involved in and the film focuses on how he lived day to day in these surroundings.

As the drugs war infuriates, Rocket edges closer to his lifelong dream of becoming a photographer when his links to the violent scene of the city provides him with perfect photo opportunities. When they are published he recieves acclaim from the press and the gang themselves who crave notoriety.

Based on a true story the film is highly interesting to the viewer and although violent at times gives what i feel is a good insight to life in such areas. As the title of the review says this is the best film i have seen in a long time and would highly recommend it to anyone with interest in cult classics.