Welcome to ‘The Wider Screen’ a series of endorsements of films in the international sphere of cinema. In the past, I have been guilty of ignoring the potential of non-English speaking cinema and as I experience more international films, I can pass them onto you. Oscar Winning Parasite director Bong Joon Ho stated “Once you overcome the 1-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films” and in line with this notion, I hope I can do my bit to introduce you to some of the great international films that I have seen.
City of God is my first focus for ‘The Wider Screen’.
Directed by Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund City of God (Cidade de Deus) highlights
the brutal gang culture that has plagued the slums of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
The story focuses on two kids as one strives to fight off gang oppression and
become a photographer, the other endeavours to become the superstar of gang
culture in Rio De Janeiro. Through the lives of Rocket and Lil Ze, you are able
to understand the hardship and turmoil that children of the favela have had to
endure for the last 50 years and beyond.
Following two characters growing up together from Cidade de
Deus (City of God) favelas but taking contrasting journeys into adulthood. Lil
Ze follows the path of crime, joining a gang and eventually rising to the top
with a great deal of control and power. Rocket, an aspiring photographer
co-exists with Lil Ze without getting involved in the high-risk crime world.
Rocket as the narrator would much rather smoke, listen to music and relax with
friends. As Rocket rejects a life of crime he is constantly reminded how ‘easier’
his life could be if he joined into the status quo, during this he witnesses first-hand
that life means relatively nothing to the ruthless gangs of the Cidade de Deus.
City of God offers a harsh but true representation of
masculinity in Brazilian society. When growing up, younger members of a family
are pushed into strong groups with loyalty placed at the heart of everything.
Strong loyalty allows room for promotion through the group and this ideal
explains why gang culture run by crime is so rife in Brazil. In a form of
Social Darwinism, a Brazilian at the bottom of the gang is desperate to succeed
and will do anything to rise in the group. Children in Brazil have much more
responsibility and expectations compared to the First world countries. Lil Ze
has to prove his masculinity as a young person of Brazil and does this through
his crime.
The cast are striking in their representation of masculine characteristics. Throughout, City of God amplifies the body as a thing of beauty, Lil Ze is deeply tanned, (suggesting that he is always on the run) fairly skinny but his body is not hidden, he’s not hiding anything, highlighting his sense of freedom. City of God spotlights the raw beauty of the characters in their most natural way, emphasising their veracity and strength as traditional men.
Let City of God be the start of something positive in your own life, I really hope that it can be the key to not just another world, but another form of culture. It’s raw and shocking but charming and full of life, it’s got a bit of everything with even a nod to Tarantino with it’s movement away from a traditional linear story, It will grab you and take you on a journey, but that is exactly the reason why cinema is so important.
City of God is one of the best films I have seen and one
that I may have ignored if I only watched English speaking films. Sometimes it’s
important to test out the unknown.
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