City of God (Portuguese: Cidade de Deus) is a 2002 Brazilian crime drama film directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, released in its home country in 2002 and worldwide in 2003.
It was adapted by Bráulio Mantovani from the 1997 novel of the same name written by Paulo Lins which are both based on a true story; the war between Knockout Ned and Li’l Zé is based on their real life counterparts. It stars Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino da Hora, Jonathan Haagensen, Douglas Silva and Seu Jorge. The tagline is “Fight and you’ll never survive… Run and you’ll never escape.”
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:, 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 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 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 perspective of life that one can understand the complicated layers and humanity of a world, apparently condemned to endless violence.
Top ten lists
The film appeared on several American critics’ top ten lists of the best films of 2003.
* 2nd – Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)
* 2nd – Chicago Tribune (Marc Caro)
* 4th – New York Post (Jonathan Foreman)
* 4th – Time Magazine (Richard Corliss)
* 5th – Portland Oregonian (Shawn Levy)
Awards and nominations
Academy Awards
* Nominated: Best Director (Fernando Meirelles)
* Nominated: Best Adapted Screenplay (Braulio Mantovani)
* Nominated: Best Cinematography (César Charlone)
* Nominated: Best Film Editing (Daniel Rezende)
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
* Nominated: Best Foreign Language Film
BAFTA Film Awards
* Won: Best Editing (Daniel Rezende)
* Nominated: Best Foreign Language Film
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
* Won: Best Foreign Language Film
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards
* Won: Best Foreign Language Film
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
* Won: Best Foreign Language Film
Satellite Awards
* Won: Best Foreign Language Film
Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards
* Won: Best Foreign Language Film
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards
* Won: Best Foreign Language Film
Toronto International Film Festival
* Won: Visions Award – Special Citation
