Cidade de Deus (2002)

Directors:

Fernando Meirelles
Kátia Lund (co-director)

Writers:

Paulo Lins (novel)
Bráulio Mantovani (screenplay)

Release Date:

2002 (Russia)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

If you run you're dead...if you stay, you're dead again. Period.

Plot:

Two boys growing up in a violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro take different paths: one becomes a photographer, the other a drug dealer.

Plot Keywords:

City Of God | Violence | Photographer | Growing Up | 1960s

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 49 wins & 25 nominations

Cast

Alexandre Rodrigues	...	Buscapé - Rocket
Leandro Firmino	...	Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé (as Leandro Firmino da Hora)
Phellipe Haagensen	...	Bené - Benny
Douglas Silva	...	Dadinho - Li'l Dice
Jonathan Haagensen	...	Cabeleira - Shaggy
Matheus Nachtergaele	...	Sandro Cenoura - Carrot
Seu Jorge	...	Mané Galinha - Knockout Ned
Jefechander Suplino	...	Alicate - Clipper
Alice Braga	...	Angélica
Emerson Gomes	...	Barbantinho - Stringy
Edson Oliveira	...	Barbantinho Adulto - Older Stringy
Michel de Souza	...	Bené Criança - Young Benny (as Michel De Souza Gomes)
Roberta Rodrigues	...	Berenice - Bernice
Luis Otávio	...	Buscapé Criança - Young Rocket
Maurício Marques	...	Cabeção - Melonhead
Gustavo Engracia	...	Editor do Jornal - Rogerio Reis
Darlan Cunha	...	Filé-com-Fritas - Steak and Fries
Robson Rocha	...	Gelson - Gerson
Thiago Martins	...	Lampião
Leandra Miranda	...	Lúcia Maracanã
Graziela Moretto	...	Marina Cintra (as Graziella Moretto)
Renato de Souza	...	Marreco - Goose
Karina Falcão	...	Mulher do Paraíba - Shorty's Wife
Sabrina Rosa	...	Namorada do Galinha - Knockout's Girlfriend
Rubens Sabino	...	Neguinho - Blacky
Marcos 'Kikito' Junqueira	...	Otávio
Edson Montenegro	...	Pai Buscapé - Rocket's Father
Gero Camilo	...	Paraíba - Shorty
Felipe Silva	...	Rafael
Daniel Zettel	...	Thiago - Tiago
Charles Paraventi	...	Tio Sam - Uncle Sam
Luiz Carlos Ribeiro Seixas	...	Touro
Paulo 'Jacaré' César	...	Tuba
Danielle Ornelas	...	Vizinha do Paraíba - Shorty's Neighbor (as Danielle Ornellas)
Bernardo Santos	...	Caixa Baixa - Runts
Diego Batista	...	Caixa Baixa - Runts
Diego Ferreira	...	Caixa Baixa - Runts
Marcio Vinicios	...	Caixa Baixa - Runts
Micael Borges	...	Caixa Baixa - Runts
Rafael de Castro	...	Caixa Baixa - Runts
Ramon Francisco	...	Caixa Baixa - Runts
Thiago Wallace	...	Caixa Baixa - Runts
Alexander Cerqueira	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Alexandre 'China' Tavares	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
André Pires Martins	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
António Rodrigues	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Bartolomeu Braga	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Carlos Henrique Avernas	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Cláudio César	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Cleiton Ventura	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Damião Firmino	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Euclides Garcia	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Fábio Castor Conceição	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Felipe Nogueira	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Ivan Martins	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
John Lima	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Jonas Michel	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Leandro Lucas	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Leandro Dias Batista	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Lúcio Andrey	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Luis Carlos Rodrigues Oliveira	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Luís Nascimento	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Marcello Melo Junior	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Márcio Costa	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang / Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Mário Luiz Costa Oliveira	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Nelson Amaral	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Omar 'Mazinho' Barcelos	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Otto Amorim	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Peter Soares	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Rafael de Souza	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Roberto Miguez	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Rómulo 'Guinomo' Sech	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Ruy Vitório	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Sérgio Bispo	...	Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Alex dos Santos	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Anderson Bruno Marques	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Anderson Lugão	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
André Luiz Mendes	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Antoni Guedes	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Bruno Ricardo	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Charles Samuel	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Éder Júlio Martins	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Eduardo 'BR' Piranha	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Erick Oliveira	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Fábio 'Dog' da Cunha	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Felipe Villela Mendonça	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Frederico Lins	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Guilherme Estevam	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Guilherme William	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Harlem Teixeira	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Leandro Gonçalves	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Leandro Lima	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Leiz Moreira	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Leonardo Melo	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Luis Carlos Oliveira	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Marcelo Melo	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang (as Marcello Melo)
Marcello 'Máscara' Alves	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Wallace Araújo	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Wallace Nascimento	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Wanderson 'Petão' Lopes	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Wellington Costa Ricardo	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Wemerson Gonçalves	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Wendel Barros	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Yuri Krushewsky	...	Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Anderson Faria	...	Cocotas - Groovies
Arlindo Lopes	...	Cocotas - Groovies
Carol Meirelles	...	Cocotas - Groovies
Carlos 'Lencinho' Smith	...	Cocotas - Groovies
Christiano	...	Cocotas - Groovies
Diego Mendes	...	Cocotas - Groovies
Jéssica da Silva	...	Cocotas - Groovies
Luciana Roque	...	Cocotas - Groovies
Marina Mandonça Pinheiro	...	Cocotas - Groovies
Michele Gonçalves	...	Cocotas - Groovies
Pierre dos Santos	...	Cocotas - Groovies
Renan Monteiro	...	Cocotas - Groovies
Vinicius Faria	...	Cocotas - Groovies
Delano Valentim	...	Polícia - Police
Ed Money	...	Polícia - Police
Fabiano Gonçalves	...	Polícia - Police
Felipe Porto	...	Polícia - Police
Francisco Marcos	...	Polícia - Police
Leo Generoso	...	Polícia - Police
Marcelo António Santos	...	Polícia - Police
Marcelo Araújo	...	Polícia - Police
Marcos Viana	...	Polícia - Police
Maurício Figueiras	...	Polícia - Police
Ricardo Lira	...	Polícia - Police
Ricardo Rocha da Silva	...	Polícia - Police
Wagner Mello	...	Polícia - Police
Waldeck Roque	...	Polícia - Police
Júlio César Siqueira	...	Aristóteles
Denise Fonseca	...	Ba
Adão Xalebaradã	...	Exu (as Adão dos Santos Thiago)
Edward Boggiss Lustosa	...	Garoto viciado - Addicted Kid
Guti Fraga	...	Gerente do supermercado - Supermarket Manager
Babu Santana	...	Grande - Big Boy (as Alexandre Santana)
Marcello Costa	...	Irmão Mané Galinha - Knockout Ned's Brother (as Marcelo Costa)
Marcos Coutinho	...	Irmão Mané Galinha - Knockout Ned's Brother
João Soares	...	Jabá
Rafael Fontenele	...	Jovem Trabalhador - Young Worker
Rosangela Rodrigues	...	Mãe Buscapé - Rocket's Mother
Jota Farias	...	Motorista do DKW - Driver
Mary Sheila	...	Mulher do Neguinho - Blacky's Wife (as Mary Sheyla de Paula)
Gil Torres	...	Mulher do Ônibus - Woman on Bus
Paulo Lins	...	Pastor da Igreja - Shepherd of the Church
Christian Duurvoort	...	Paulista - Man from São Paulo
Olivia Araújo	...	Recepcionista do Motel - Motel Receptionist (as Olívia Araújo)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sérgio Chapelin	...	Himself - Reporter (archive footage) (uncredited)
Tulé Peak	...	Newspaper Employee (uncredited)

Directed by
Fernando Meirelles
Kátia Lund		(co-director)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Paulo Lins		novel
Bráulio Mantovani		screenplay

Produced by
Andrea Barata Ribeiro	....	producer
Marc Beauchamps	....	co-producer
Bel Berlinck	....	line producer
Daniel Filho	....	co-producer
Hank Levine	....	co-producer
Vincent Maraval	....	co-producer
Mauricio Andrade Ramos	....	producer
Donald Ranvaud	....	executive producer (as Donald K. Ranvaud)
Juliette Renaud	....	co-producer
Walter Salles	....	executive producer
Elisa Tolomelli	....	line producer

Original Music by
Ed Cortês
Antonio Pinto

Cinematography by
César Charlone

Film Editing by
Daniel Rezende

Production Design by
Tulé Peak

Costume Design by
Bia Salgado
Inês Salgado

Makeup Department
Donna Meirelles	....	makeup artist
Anna Van Steen	....	makeup designer

Production Management
René Bittencourt	....	production manager
Claudine Franco	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lamartine Ferreira	....	assistant director
Malu Miranda	....	third assistant director
Isabella Teixeira	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Bia Pessoa	....	art painter
Bia Pessoa	....	special paint effects
Rafael Ronconi	....	assistant production designer
Severo Santos	....	assistant art producer

Sound Department
Guilherme Ayrosa	....	sound
Lisa Geffcken-Reinhard	....	dialogue editor
Martín Hernández	....	sound designer
Carlos Honc	....	sound
Alessandro Laroca	....	sound
Samuel Mendoza	....	foley artist
Paulo Ricardo Nunes	....	sound
Rudy Pi	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alejandro Quevedo	....	sound
Pradip Romay	....	sound editor
Adam Sawelson	....	sound
Unsun Song	....	sound re-recordist
Roland N. Thai	....	sound effects editor

Visual Effects by
Renato Batata	....	visual effects supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Pablo Baião	....	second assistant camera (as Pablo Giannini Baião)
Francisco Bispo	....	best boy
Roberto Brito	....	electrician
Lula Carvalho	....	first assistant camera
Cristiano Conceição	....	assistant camera: second unit
Amarildo Cruz	....	electrician
Breno Cunha	....	assistant camera: second unit
Alexandre Dantas	....	video assistant: second unit
Pablo Hoffmann	....	video assist operator
Sérgio Isidoro	....	gaffer
Márcio Manhães	....	assistant electrician
Clóvis Marinho	....	assistant grip
Paulo Miranda	....	grip
Mário Moraes	....	grip
Julia Schmidt	....	third assistant camera
Vitor Scola	....	assistant grip
Fabricio Tadeu	....	Steadicam operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Patricia Monteiro	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Alessandra Casolari	....	post-production coordinator
João Cutileiro Nunes	....	first assistant editor
Fred Ricci	....	assistant editor
Ana Teixeira	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Simon Katz	....	featured musician
Armando Torres Jr.	....	music mixer assistant

Other crew
John Kaylin	....	dubbing producer
Maria Fatima Toledo	....	coach

Production Companies

• O2 Filmes
• VideoFilmes
• Globo Filmes (co-production)
• Lereby Productions (co-production)
• Studio Canal (co-production)
• Wild Bunch (co-production)

Distributors

• Buena Vista International (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (UK) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Kamras Film Group (2003) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Kulturföreningen Kedjan (2003) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Mars Distribution (2003) (France) (theatrical)
• Miramax Films (2003) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Triangelfilm (2003) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment
• DeA Planeta Home Entertainment (2003) (Spain) (DVD)
• Future Film (2004) (Finland) (DVD) (VHS)
• Gativideo (2003) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2003) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Highlight Film (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Lighthouse Pictures (Singapore)
• MegaCom Film (MCF) (Yugoslavia) (all media)
• Mikado
• Miramax Films (Australia)
• Miramax Films (Italy)
• Miramax Films (Latin America)
• Nelonen (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• New Age Entertainment (2003) (Portugal) (all media)
• Pan Vision (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (video)
• With Cinema (Korea)

Special Effects

• M.M. Artes Técnicas (special effects)

Other Companies

• Marcão Alimentação  catering
• Milan Records  soundtrack released by
• Post Logic Studios  digital film mastering
• Yazbek e Portaro Advogados  legal services

Also Known As:

City of God (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
God's Town (International: English title)
La cité de Dieu (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong brutal violence, sexuality, drug content and language.

Runtime:

130 min | Canada:135 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Brazil | France

Language:

Portuguese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:M18 (video rating) (version 2) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | South Korea:18 | Israel:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Brazil:16 | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | Germany:16 (bw) | Hong Kong:III | Italy:T | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) (cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R | Singapore:R21

Filming Locations:

Cidade de Deus, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Company:

O2 Filmes

Trivia:

The shot where we see a lot of dead bodies lying on huge blocks of concrete was recreated from an award-winning photograph taken during the drug war portrayed in the movie.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Knockout Ned is yelling over the dead boy, the body is breathing.

Quotes:

Cabeleira: Hey, Bernice. Listen, I've got something real important to say. Tell me, you ever heard of love at first sight?
Berenice: Sure, but hoods don't fall in love, they just get horny.
Cabeleira: C'mon, you cut everything I say to pieces.
Berenice: Hoods don't talk, they just vomit words.
Cabeleira: Jesus, I'm gonna stop wasting my saliva on you, you sure ain't easy.
Berenice: Hoods never stop, they just take a break.
Cabeleira: Jeez, Bernice, talking about love with you is pretty complicated, isn't it?
Berenice: Love, you gotta be kidding. You're just leading me on.
Cabeleira: But it's just that this jerk here loves you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in In Search of a Midnight Kiss (2007)

Soundtrack:

Nem Vem Que Não Tem

Gangs of Rio

If you're unlucky to be born into a socially, economically and racially isolated community that has poverty, crime, drugs and violence as its everyday realities, the odds are stacked incredibly high against you. It literally takes so much effort, strength, struggle and plain ol' good fortune to simply avoid becoming a gangster, let alone do anything more with life. Most who find themselves in the situation described above never even enter this fight and out of those that do - only the rare ones succeed.

"City of God" depicts this conundrum masterfully.

In a Rio slum called Cidade de Deus we meet character after character that has the right idea, knowledge and courage to get out but somehow always ends up being pulled right back into this vicious circle. Becoming a hoodlum in Cidade de Deus isn't just a fringe career option for disenchanted rebels and social outcasts - it's the main industry.

The images of gun toting pre-teen killers are very disturbing and Meirelles uses them relentlessly to underscore just how hopeless and frighteningly predetermined life is for these kids. Many of them can't read or write but already know how to use a gun and kill without remorse. In a particularly harrowing scene, local drug lord Ze Pequeno or Lil' Ze (Leandro Firmino da Hora) exacts revenge on a disobedient gang of 9 and 10 year olds by incapacitating two of them and forcing one of his own kid soldiers, as initiation of sorts, to choose which one of the two he wants to kill. Faced with death, one of the kids starts crying crocodile tears; suddenly all the bravado is gone and he is shown for what he truly is - a desperately misdirected infant.

'If only these people had more options....' is the sentiment reinforced with every gruesome event.

Of course, this lifestyle comes a little more naturally to some than to others. Ze Pequeno, for example, from an early age when he was known as Dadinho / Lil' Dice shows a considerable lack of aversion to blood and death. In another aptly choreographed scene so that we don't know what exactly happened until much later, he more than 'holds his own' alongside much older gangsters during a motel stickup.

Also on hand is a colourful palette of characters. From our narrator Buscape / Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues) whose ticket out of the slum is his love of photography over to people like laidback Bene / Benny (Philippe Haagensen), followed by Ze's fierce rival Cenoura / Carrot (Matheus Nachtergaele) or good guy turned bad (although it's not so simple) Mane Galinha / Knockout Ned (Seu Jorge) we see a multidimensional, pulsating, alive community that seems in need of a strong, sustained outside push to finally stop chasing its own tail and get out of this destructive cycle.