City of Men (review)
If you’re expecting more of the gorgeous, ugly luminosity of 2002’s City of God -- Fernando Meirelles’s astonishing film about life in the desperate slums of Brazil -- don’t: you’ll only set yourself up for disappointment. A companion piece to that film, and to the 2002-5 Brazilian television series also called City of Men (available on DVD, and well worth checking out), this follows on from the TV series with the stories of Acerola and Laranjinha, now 18 years old and struggling to make their way as new men in what has to be one of the toughest places on earth to grow up, a world defined by urban gang warfare that one cannot, it seems, stay above the fray of without actually removing oneself physically to another very distant place. Actors Douglas Silva and Darlan Cunha as the two friends may well not be acting, or at least not much: both hail from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, and their performances are tough and honest. But the story swirling around them is -- compared to City of God and the TV series -- disappointingly conventional. Chalk that up, perhaps, to Meirelles’s departure as director (Paulo Morelli takes over): it’s his wicked eye that is missing here.
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rated R for violent content, language and some sexuality
official site | IMDB
comments
posted by Pedro (March 10, 2008 6:51 AM)
Well MA, i completely disagree with you on this one. I believe this one deserves a green light through and through. Everything that comes out of the Nos do Cinema group is sheer gold, and City of Men is no exception.
The reason why there is none of the gritticism of City of God is because this is a project of a different nature. City of God was a gritty portrait of life in the slums of Rio, while City of Men is a laid-back portrait of *life* in the slums of Rio.
That's why crime features heavily in the first film - because it's about gangsters. In the second, it takes a back seat, but it is still present - because if you live in the slums, you're in contact with crime on a daily basis. Acerola's resignated comment of "one guy less" mirrors what life is like in the Rio "favelas".
I also don't agree with Fernando Meirelles when he says this is a comedy. For me, it's just as poignant as City of God, except in a different way - its fundamental, base themes of lifelong friendship, betrayal, dreams and the need for a family could be part of any movie, set anywhere.
For my part, i enjoyed the film. The only remark i have is the fact that, whenever someone shoots at Acerola, all the shots conveniently miss the target. Guess hitmen have pretty wobbly aims, huh?
Other than that, another masterpiece from Meirelles and Co.