Based on a Powerful Novel
City of God, the 2002 Brazilian production directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, has found a new streaming home. The Academy Award-nominated crime drama, originally titled Cidade de Deus, has been added to the Paramount+ library, giving modern audiences the chance to stream one of the best movies of its time. Its less prominent sequel, City of Men, has also been added to the streamer.
A Young Boy’s Descent into the World of Crime
Based on the Bráulio Mantovani screenplay, which was inspired by Paulo Lins’ novel of the same name, City of God follows a small boy who has grown up in a crime-infested neighborhood where survival is a daily matter. As Rocket grows, he turns into a professional photographer and captures the reality of coming of age in one of the country’s most dangerous places. The film showcases Rocket’s transformation from a wide-eyed child to a hardened young man, struggling to survive in a world dominated by crime and violence.
Two Different Paths: The Story of Rocket and José “Zé” Pequeno
Per the Rotten Tomatoes synopsis of the film, 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, while 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’s narrative is driven by the contrast between Rocket’s artistic vision and Zé’s brutal ambitions, highlighting the harsh realities of life in the favelas.
A Critical Acclaim
Upon release, City of God received instant international acclaim. It became one of the most important Brazilian productions to break into global markets and was a worldwide box office hit. The film grossed more than $30 million from its modest $3 million production budget. At the Academy Awards that took place in 2004, City of God received four nominations, including Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing. Despite the surprise omission from Best Foreign Language Film, it earned four nominations, including Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing.
A Critical and Commercial Success
Despite not winning any of its nominations, the reception by critics was overwhelmingly positive. It made the top 10 lists of many high-profile critics, and today it sits at 91% on Rotten Tomatoes with a Certified Fresh label. The audience score boasts a higher rating of 97%. Famous critic Roger Ebert said the following about City of God while awarding it four stars (his top rating):
“City of God churns with furious energy as it plunges into the story of the slum gangs of Rio de Janeiro. Breathtaking and terrifying, urgently involved with its characters, it announces a new director of great gifts and passions: Fernando Meirelles. Remember the name. The film has been compared with Scorsese’s GoodFellas, and it deserves the comparison. Scorsese’s film began with a narrator who said that for as long as he could remember he wanted to be a gangster. The narrator of this film seems to have had no other choice.”
City of God is a raw, unflinching look at reality that heavily resonated with audiences and critics alike. The film’s gritty realism and unapologetic portrayal of crime and violence have made it a cult classic, inspiring a TV series titled city of Men and a film adaptation of the same name. In 2013, a documentary titled City of God – 10 Years Later showed the performers and how their lives had changed since the release of the original.
A Legacy That Continues to Inspire
In 2024, the Max series City of God: The Fight Rages On followed up on Rocket (with Alexandre Rodrigues reprising his role from decades ago) and his current whereabouts. The film’s enduring impact and influence can be seen in its continued relevance today, serving as a powerful reminder of the harsh realities of life in the favelas and the importance of storytelling in shedding light on social issues.
Key Points
- City of God was added to the Paramount+ library, making it available for modern audiences to stream.
- The film was based on the novel of the same name by Paulo Lins.
- City of God was shot on location in Rio de Janeiro’s poorest neighborhoods.
- The film received instant international acclaim and was a worldwide box office hit.
- City of God earned four Academy Award nominations, including Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing.
Critical Reception
The film’s critical reception was overwhelmingly positive, with many critics praising its gritty realism, powerful storytelling, and exceptional direction. The film’s cinematography and editing were particularly notable, with many critics praising their work in capturing the harsh realities of life in the favelas. Roger Ebert’s four-star review, in which he compared the film to Scorsese’s GoodFellas, was particularly telling, highlighting the film’s raw energy and its ability to capture the harsh realities of life in the favelas.
Legacy and Impact
The film’s legacy and impact cannot be overstated. City of God has become a cult classic, inspiring a TV series titled City of Men and a film adaptation of the same name. In 2013, a documentary titled City of God – 10 Years Later showed the performers and how their lives had changed since the release of the original. The film’s enduring impact and influence can be seen in its continued relevance today, serving as a powerful reminder of the harsh realities of life in the favelas and the importance of storytelling in shedding light on social issues.
| Year | Release | Platform | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | City of God | Theaters | Released |
| 2004 | Academy Awards | Theaters | Nominated |
| 2024 | City of God: The Fight Rages On | Max | Released |
References
City of God is a film that continues to captivate audiences with its raw, unflinching portrayal of reality.