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      City of God

      R Now Playing 2h 11m Crime Drama List
      91% Tomatometer 165 Reviews 97% Audience Score 250,000+ Ratings In the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, two young men choose different paths. Rocket (Phellipe Haagensen) is a budding photographer who documents the increasing drug-related violence of his neighborhood. José "Zé" Pequeno (Douglas Silva) is an ambitious drug dealer who uses Rocket and his photos as a way to increase his fame as a turf war erupts with his rival, "Knockout Ned" (Leandro Firmino da Hora). The film was shot on location in Rio's poorest neighborhoods. Read More Read Less Now in Theaters Now Playing Buy Tickets

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      Critics Consensus

      City of God offers a shocking and disturbing -- but always compelling -- look at life in the slums of Rio de Janiero.

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      Critics Reviews

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      Anupama Chopra Film Companion What makes City of God so breathtaking is director Fernando Meirelles' passion for these people - he gives us the color, the music and the humor... Dec 30, 2019 Full Review J. R. Jones Chicago Reader I came away from this film impressed by its narrative control but unmoved by anything it had to say. Nov 8, 2011 Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media Powerful, but only for 17 and up. Rated: 4/5 Dec 22, 2010 Full Review Blake Howard One Heat Minute “A gateway drug to world cinema … aesthetically pure… the world was bigger after I watched City of God.” Rated: 4/4 Feb 13, 2023 Full Review Ray Pride Newcity What is the value of human life? And why are we so reckless with the fate of the youth of the world? Rated: 7/10 Aug 18, 2022 Full Review Fico Cangiano CineXpress Podcast A cold, hard look at reality from a specific moment in time, specific place in the world and specific point-of-view. A brilliant film that shines in every department. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 3.5/5 Nov 26, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Alexandre V Um dos melhores filmes do cinema brasileiro. Envolvente, inovador. A cena da galinha conquistou até Steven Spielberg. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/01/24 Full Review Izael S Um filme que retrata muito bem a realidade nas favelas brasileiras,Mostrando como o crime influência de maneira negativa a população que nela vive. Excepcional!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/06/24 Full Review Terrance L Everything about this film is A++. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/24 Full Review matthieu r One of the best films I have ever seen. Extremely violent and sad story, but not an apology for violence and keeps a sense of humour and poetry. The cinematography is great. The past of the movie is perfect, very dynamic when needed but still very deep. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/18/24 Full Review danwhiffinmusic Great uptempo film, with lots of twists and turns. Love the way it all the characters interweaved, with brutal scenes throughout but also a beautifully shot film. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/28/24 Full Review Alec C Prepare to enter the crime-ridden streets of Rio de Janeiro, in the City of God! A young photographer takes photos of the ever-growing violence in his neighborhood, where a deranged drug-lord begins a killing spree for power that leaves many innocents caught in the crossfire. This foreign film manages to show us the impoverished gangland where no one is safe from the death and will soon be dragged into the carnage. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/26/24 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      City of God

      Fernando Meirelles's CITY OF GOD. Fernando Meirelles's CITY OF GOD. Fernando Meirelles's CITY OF GOD. Fernando Meirelles's CITY OF GOD. Fernando Meirelles's CITY OF GOD. Fernando Meirelles's CITY OF GOD. View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis In the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, two young men choose different paths. Rocket (Phellipe Haagensen) is a budding photographer who documents the increasing drug-related violence of his neighborhood. José "Zé" Pequeno (Douglas Silva) is an ambitious drug dealer who uses Rocket and his photos as a way to increase his fame as a turf war erupts with his rival, "Knockout Ned" (Leandro Firmino da Hora). The film was shot on location in Rio's poorest neighborhoods.
      Director
      Fernando Meirelles
      Producer
      Elisa Tolomelli, Donald Ranvaud, Walter Salles
      Screenwriter
      Bráulio Mantovani, Paulo Lins
      Distributor
      Miramax Films
      Production Co
      StudioCanal, Videofilmes, Hank Levine Film, O2 Filmes, Lereby, Lumiere Productions, Globo Filmes, Wild Bunch
      Rating
      R (Language|Drug Content|Sexuality|Strong Brutal Violence)
      Genre
      Crime, Drama
      Original Language
      Portuguese (Brazil)
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jan 17, 2003, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Dec 17, 2015
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $7.6M
      Runtime
      2h 11m
      Sound Mix
      Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
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