Saw this likely Oscar contender the other night in a suburban Rio theater with Patty and her family. Cidade de Deus (“City of God”) is nominally about gang violence in the Rio favela (slum) of the same name during the 60′s and 70′s, but it goes deeper than that. Although I understood very little of the slang-laden fast Portuguese dialog, this is a film that clearly anyone with eyes will intuitively understand. The cinematography is striking but not overdone, and the story of little kids picking up guns and starting a life of crime is overpowering. The movie is full of violence, but it’s not Tarentino-like violence, it’s just the way things are in this part of this city at this time in Brazil’s history.
I think this movie has a strong shot at the foreign film Oscar, especially with Miramax behind its international distribution. Clearly, there is a something in the movie for everyone, but it must mean far more to Brazilians who both lived through the period and who deal with drug trafficking problems in society even today.
In any case, for Brazil to elect a president from the left and to watch films deploring their social problems is a strong sign of openness for a country coming of age on the international stage.
My vote for best foreign film (even though it’s in English) is The Pianist. I’ve been a Roman Polanski fan for quite some time and this is just such an amazing and moving film.
COD just is the best film i’ve ever seen !!