City of God

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Year:	2002
Country of origin:	Brazil / France
Director:	Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund
Genre:	True life crime drama
Starring:	Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Phellipe Haagensen, Jonathan Haagensen, Matheus Nachtergaele
Rating:	5/5
IMDB link:	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317248/
Tagline:	If you run you're dead...if you stay, you're dead again. Period.
Favourite line:	N/A - Subtitled

An extraordinary movie.

Seen through the eyes of Rocket, a young man growing up in the slums of Rio de Janiero, we follow the exploits of those that inhabit the City of God, an almost lawless place where even the police fear to tread.
Crime is the watchword and a human life is worth only as much as the money in their pocket. Focusing primarily on the activities of two of Rocket's acquaintances, Li'l Zé and Bené, we see them grow from small boys walking in their brothers shadows, to hoodlums in their own right.
Bené, though a criminal, is popular, seen as kind and considerate, only hurting others when necessary and taking no joy in it.
Li'l Zé is the absolute opposite, delighting every time he gets the chance to pull the trigger and end a life, who dreams of one day ruling the city. His dream becomes a reality, though one boss still stands in his way of total control, Carrot, a white dealer, with his own gang and his own power.
Inevitably, it will come to war.

Provocative, thought provoking, heart rending, witty, terrifying, warm, shocking, charming. All of these words can be applied here, and more besides.
A bout as good as cinema gets, if you haven't seen this yet, do so at the first opportunity. Remarkable.