CITY OF GOD

Review: A sweeping take of how crime affects the poor population of Rio de Janeiro. Two kids’ paths separate, one struggles to become a photographer and the other a kingpin.
Directors: Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund
Actors: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Douglas Silva, Jonathan Haagensen, Seu Jorge and Alice Braga
Year: 2002
Genre: Action, Adventure, Art House, Crime, Drama and International
Conclusion: 4/5
The original title for this film is Cidade de Deus. Inspired by a fact-based novel by Paulo Lins’s who actually grew up in the City of God, somehow escaped it, and spent eight years writing his book. When this film was first released it was compared with Scorsese’s “GoodFellas,” (1990) and quite rightly deserves the comparison. Leandro Firmino really was from the City of God. He had no ambitions to be an actor but only went to the audition to keep his friend company. Since starring in this film he has continued to be an actor. At the Bafta Film Awards in 2003 this won for Best Editing.