City of God (2002)

*SPOILER FREE

My only entry in this series, and my only experience, from Brazilian cinema. City of God is as grand as it sounds.

City of God is a semi-biographical crime drama set between the late 1960s and the early 1980s in the Cidade de Deus "City of God" suburb of Rio de Janeiro and following Rocket (our narrator), an insecure young man who aspires to become a photographer. Rocket is growing up in the midst of cruel poverty, oppressive crime, and compromised public security.

This is a coming-of-age drama that will break your heart as much as it will fill it with compassion and sympathy for the innocent young lives who are brought up in sadistic environments in a harsh reality that's more terrifying than what a camera can picture.

With breathtaking cinematography, masterful editing and sound design, this epic keeps you on the edge of your seat, irritated, and engaged from the first seconds until the ending credits.

The performances, especially by the child actors, are outstanding and authentic that you will have to keep reminding yourself that what you're watching is merely acting before a camera.

Directors Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund tell a heart-wrenching, non-linear story that's very well written, with courage and style.

City of God is compelling 21st century masterpiece of world cinema that translate pain into art.

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Available to watch on Google Play, Apple TV, HBO Max, and on Amazon Prime Video

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