Cidade De Deus

Kathy & I saw City of God last night. It’s a Brazilian film about street gangs in Rio de Janeiro, and it’s absolutely masterful. If you like Goodfellas, rent this puppy. It’s a visual treat, and the story absolutely won’t disappoint. It’s set in the “City of God,” the name for a slum in Rio where the poor are shunted to keep the main city safe for tourism and business. The plot focuses on a young guy who wants to be a photographer, but is inevitably linked with the various street gangs and factions in the slum. He’s surrounded by numerous hoods and very few heroes, and the film allows you to take in each of them and their own stories. The movie is fresh, the filmmaking is dazzling and kinetic and will make you feel good about style without sacrificing one iota of substance.

Don't believe me? Here's what Roger Ebert had to say. From what I recall, he also called it one of the 10 best films of 2002.

The director, Fernando Meirelles, is now directing The Constant Gardener, a John LeCarre thriller starring Ralph Fiennes. This is your chance to know him when.

Rob