City of God - Cidade de Deus (2002)

DVD Rip w/ hardcoded english subtitle

Directors:
Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund (co-director)

Writers:
Paulo Lins (novel)
Bráulio Mantovani (screenplay)

Release Date:
2002
 
Genre:
Action, Drama
 
Plot:
Cidade de Deus (City of God) is a housing project built in the 1960's that--in the early 80's--became one of the most dangerous places in Rio de Janeiro. The tale tells the stories of many characters whose lives sometimes intersect. However, all is seen through the eyes of a singular narrator: Buscapé, a poor black youth too frail and scared to become an outlaw but also too smart to be content with underpaid, menial jobs. He grows up in a very violent environment. The odds are all against him. But Buscapé soon discovers that he can see reality differently 
than others. His redemption is that he's been given an artist's point of view as a keen-eyed photographer. As Buscapé is not the real protagonist of the film--only the narrator--he is not the one who makes the decisions that will determine the sequence of events. Nevertheless, not only his life is attached to what happens in the story, but it is also through Buscapé's perspective of life that one can understand the complicated layers and humanity of a world, apparently condemned to endless violence.

 
Awards:
Nominated for 4 Oscars.

 
Cast:	

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