Cinema Review: 'City of God' (From Penarth Times)

Cinema Review: 'City of God'

YOU won't see many better films this year than this minor masterpiece.

City of God will blow your mind.

A truly outstanding and unforgettable film that is like a breath of fresh air . The film traces the lives of two boys into early adulthood, as they grow up in a dangerous ghetto in Rio de Janeiro during the 1960s and 70s known as Cidade de Deus, the City of God.

The two follow distinctly different paths on the most dangerous streets in a mean city where murder, drugs and random violence are a way of life.

Rocket is a decent black kid trying to keep his nose clean, and with a burning desire to become a photojournalist.

His antithesis is the psychopath Lil Ze who becomes the City of God's 'Mr Big' with his drugs empire.

Leandro Firmino da Hora's performance as Lil Ze makes Joe Pesci's Tommy De Vito from Goodfellas seem like quite a reasonable chap in comparison.

At times the violence is truly shocking, but it's not done for cheap thrills, for the City of God is based on a true story (a book by Paolo Lins), and what happens in the film happened for real.

It culminates in an-all out bloody war between two opposing gangs after Lil Ze oversteps the mark with actions that are brutal even by his standards.

Fernando Meirelles' deft touches are masterful delivering fantastic action sequences, flawless acting from a cast of previously non-professional actors, terrific music and unforgettable images.

I was left asking myself: Where has Brazilian cinema been hiding all these years if they can make films like this?

I would urge you to go out and watch this.