City of God- Directed by Fernando Meirelles

It is always interesting to notice the feelings and thoughts experienced after watching a film. The range of emotions is so wide, that you could leave a screening feeling depressed or jubilant. Our passive experience in films allow us to get sucked in to another world or even the same world, but through a different perspective. 

"City of God" took me to the slums in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

Based on a book by Paulo Lins, the film depicts the rise and fall of many characters involved in the organized drug crime of the city. Yet, it takes place over 20 or 30 years and effectively tells the story of not only the growth of the neighborhood "City of God", but also the development of the characters in a reality of sparse opportunities. 

Visually, I enjoyed the saturated colors and dark contrasts in the photography. Also, I was impressed by a cinematographic technique of shooting one place without any camera movement but having characters move around and a narrator tell a story. This way, the viewer got a sense of chronology and of how one scenario could rapidly shift. 

The character that interested me the most was the protagonist, Buscape. While the other characters were wild, perverted, addicts, and criminals, Buscape was the connection between the spectator and the ultra-violent reality that was illustrated. All he wanted was to photograph and escape the City of God. Yet, he is dragged down by the violence and corruption. The fact that he can still dream even though he is surrounded by catastrophe is truly inspiring.

I was also impressed by the directors ability to tell so many separate stories and in the end weave them over a long period of time in a ever eye catching manner. The smaller stories contain as much shock value as the main narrative about the drug dealers. I shivered after watching a woman beaten to death with a shovel after committing adultery.

"City of God" made me question the very essence of what it means to be human. What are our limitations? What is the difference between surviving and living? How do our surroundings effect our actions? And, moreover, is there possibility of a happy and fulfilling life if you are in born in a violent and lacking environment?

I do not want to spoil the ending because I do recommend this movie to everyone who hasn't already undergone a brutal but life changing experience of watching it. It was truly eye-opening.