City of God

The film attacks the viewer with its rawness, with everything presented incredibly realistically, creating an almost documentary-like impression. This is Rio de Janeiro, this is the city where death can come just because someone has too much power. A tough drama that heavily relies on the fact that such slums in Brazil are likely real. Sometimes you feel like it really is. The scenes with children are truly intense. It is difficult to get into the story because the intensity with which the film affects you will probably shock you and take your breath away. It is quite challenging to identify with the characters. (02/17/2014)

An exceptional masterpiece that may only receive true recognition after several years. The Brazilian nature of this film can literally be felt in every second. The filmmakers break away from the typical clichéd story and give us a gritty, realistic experience, where we see the harsh life in the roughest neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro. The formal aspect is flawless, with fantastic handheld camera, brilliant editing, and sound. The actors (unknown to me) give wonderful performances and the direction is even better. (05/07/2005)

Well, I don’t think City of God is only an average film, as my rating may indicate, but I simply can’t grant four or five stars to something that never managed to make me interested in how it will end. The editing is very nice, and so are the performances and the direction, but what can I do with that when I didn’t care at all about the story itself? (12/07/2008)

This beautifully raw film, City of God, depicting the bloody past of Rio de Janeiro's most dangerous and oldest slum, is exactly the kind of drama that hits you to the core. And not only in form or subject matter, but above all in how incredibly authentic and realistic it is. That's the way movies based on true events should be made, so that their realness cries out to all corners of the world. (95%) (03/07/2023)

The City of Gods is an extraordinary film, primarily because of its content, depicting poverty in the slums on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro and the enormous criminality that exists in this area. It is based on a true story. In the past, the problem of impoverished neighborhoods was even greater. The notorious Death Squads (EM) originated in Brazil, and the abbreviation comes from the name of the motorized police brigades, whose members illegally massacred members of children's gangs in the suburbs of Brazilian cities in the 60s. The film's strengths lie in its modern editing, good camera work, screenplay, and performances by completely unseen actors in Europe. There is nothing major that can be criticized about the film. Overall impression: 95%. (10/28/2007)