City of God

Original title: Cidade de Deus

2002
R
2h 10m

IMDb RATING

8.6/10

819K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer0:59

Coming-of-Age Gangster Crime Drama

In the slums of Rio, two kids' paths diverge as one struggles to become a photographer and the other a kingpin.In the slums of Rio, two kids' paths diverge as one struggles to become a photographer and the other a kingpin.In the slums of Rio, two kids' paths diverge as one struggles to become a photographer and the other a kingpin.

Directors
- Fernando Meirelles
- Kátia Lund
Writers
- Bráulio Mantovani
- Paulo Lins
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.6/10

819K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

315

135

Directors
- Fernando Meirelles
- Kátia Lund
Writers
- Bráulio Mantovani
- Paulo Lins
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Top rated movie #25

Nominated for 4 Oscars
- 75 wins & 50 nominations total

Trivia
When we hear Buscapé (Alexandre Rodrigues) talking to Marina (Graziella 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.

Goofs
Lil' Ze is taken into custody by the police, Rocket runs after the police truck. The Police truck passes by a late - model Chevrolet S10, black, circa 2001. The movie is set in the seventies.

Quotes
Buscapé: It was like a message from God: "Honesty doesn't pay, sucker."

Crazy credits
The closing credits shows pictures of the main actors, their name, their character's name and pictures of the real life characters (for the ones based on existing people).

Alternate versions
The Indian Censor Board nonsensically deleted the visuals of frontal nudity in the motel scene and the dialogue of a woman talking about her sexual experiences for an 'A' (adults) rating.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Best Films of 2002 (2003)

Soundtracks
Alvorada
Written by Cartola / Carlos Cachaça / Hermínio Bello de Carvalho (as Hermínio B. Carvalho)
Performed by Cartola
Peer Music do Brasil Edições Musicais Ltda
Licensed by EMI Music Ltda

User reviews1.2K

Review

Featured review

8/10

The Godfather of Rio

Li'l Zé and his gang is having fun chasing a runaway chicken in a Rio favela called the Cidade de Deus "City of God". The chicken comes to Rocket with his camera. Then flashbacks to the 60s tell the story of Rocket who becomes the photographer of his friends. Li'l Zé and his best friend Benny grow up to be the crime boss of the city. There's Carrot who is a criminal leader tolerated by Benny and there's Knockout Ned who turned away from crime.

It is truly a new Godfather. It is the harsh brutality of the slums. It's the randomness of the world. It beats with a human heart. It's a little messy. It's visceral. The kids are played by kids. The criminals are remorseless. The amateur actors are authentic. The cinematography is terrific. The location can't get more real. It is a new crime masterpiece.