IMDb > Cidade de Deus (2002)
Cidade de Deus
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Cidade de Deus (2002) More at IMDbPro »

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Cidade de Deus (2002) -- Two boys growing up in a violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro take different paths: one becomes a photographer, the other a drug dealer.
Cidade de Deus (2002) -- Two boys growing up in a violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro take different paths: one becomes a photographer, the other a drug dealer.
Cidade de Deus (2002) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Directors:
Writers:
Paulo Lins (novel)
Bráulio Mantovani (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for City of God on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
2002 (Russia) more
Genre:
Tagline:
If you run you're dead...if you stay, you're dead again. Period. more
Plot:
Two boys growing up in a violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro take different paths: one becomes a photographer, the other a drug dealer. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 55 wins & 25 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(30 articles)
User Comments:
"One of the best films you'll ever see!"--Roger Ebert, does it live up to the hype? more (586 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Alexandre Rodrigues ... Buscapé - Rocket
Leandro Firmino ... Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé (as Leandro Firmino da Hora)
Phellipe Haagensen ... Bené - Benny
Douglas Silva ... Dadinho - Li'l Dice
Jonathan Haagensen ... Cabeleira - Shaggy
Matheus Nachtergaele ... Sandro Cenoura - Carrot
Seu Jorge ... Mané Galinha - Knockout Ned
Jefechander Suplino ... Alicate - Clipper

Alice Braga ... Angélica
Emerson Gomes ... Barbantinho - Stringy
Edson Oliveira ... Barbantinho Adulto - Older Stringy
Michel de Souza ... Bené Criança - Young Benny (as Michel De Souza Gomes)
Roberta Rodrigues ... Berenice - Bernice
Luis Otávio ... Buscapé Criança - Young Rocket
Maurício Marques ... Cabeção - Melonhead
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
City of God (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
God's Town (International: English title)
La cité de Dieu (France)
Ciudad de Dios (Argentina) (International: Spanish title) (Spain) [es]
Cidade de Deus (Portugal) [pt]
Città di Dio (Italy) [it]
City of God (Finland) [fi]
City of God (Germany) (video title) [de]
City of God (Norway) [no]
Grad bogova (Serbia) [sr]
Guds by (Denmark) [da]
Guds stad (Sweden) [sv]
I poli tou Theou (Greece) [el]
Mesto bohov (Slovakia) [sk]
Mesto bohu (Czech Republic) [cs]
Miasto boga (Poland) [pl]
Shithî obu goddo (Japan) [ja]
Tanri kent (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
more
MPAA:
Rated R for strong brutal violence, sexuality, drug content and language.
Runtime:
130 min | Canada:135 min (Toronto International Film Festival)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The B&W footage showing an anchor talking about the prison of "Mané Galinha" is real. The anchor is Sérgio Chapelin, a well-known Brazilian news anchor. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When the Tender Trio open the garage to steal the car after the motel robbery, the car drives out before the boys have completely entered the garage. more
Quotes:
Buscapé: It was like a message from God: "Honesty doesn't pay, sucker." more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in 50 Films to See Before You Die (2006) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Preciso Me Encontrar more

FAQ

Why the name "City of God"? It seems like just the opposite!
The gang of Children that gun down Lil' Ze at the end frequently mention the formation of a "Red" gang. Is there any significance to this?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
more
433 out of 484 people found the following comment useful.
"One of the best films you'll ever see!"--Roger Ebert, does it live up to the hype?, 28 November 2004
10/10
Author: blinkday4141 from Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

The film revolves around the, 'City of God,' a favela (or ghetto) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a horrifying area where drug dealers run the community, and where children killing children is not an uncommon occurrence.

The story begins with the early stages of the City of God (in the 1960's) showing where many of the problems stem from- the extreme poverty, overcrowding etc. Here, in the early stages of the favela, we meet our main characters, along with the supporting cast. The story revolves mainly around two characters living in the favela, Rocket and Lil Ze, and how they take two different paths through life. Rocket's dream is to become a photographer and to escape the City of God while Lil Ze becomes a powerful gang leader and drug dealer.

The film offers an unflinching look at gang life in the City of God, as it follows the favela through three decades; the 60's, 70's and 80's, and shows how violence just spirals into more violence with the disturbingly high amounts of violence in the favela, most involving teenagers and children.

The direction, cinematography, and editing are all Oscar-worthy. The cinematography is some of the best I have ever seen- with a very visceral, jerky feel, very reminiscent of Saving Private Ryan. The editing is very frantic, which makes you feel like you are on the streets of the City of God, and the direction is flawless, seamlessly blending the many elements of the story.

The film was definitely one of the best films I have ever seen. The story, the direction, the cinematography, the editing and the acting all add up to make a excellent movie that I would recommend to all.

10/10, A+

Would also recommend: Bus 174 and Carandiru

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (586 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Cidade de Deus (2002)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
i am shocked this isnt in top 5 antinikhil
Two similar movies to City of God... kws1000
5 movies you hate but you wish you liked hafstadelic
A Little Revisionist History **Spoiler Alert** maj42005
What's with the underage sex? JT_1
Why City of God isn't great chris_topher1992
more

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