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City of God

"If you run, the beast catches you; if you stay, the beast eats you."

2002-08-30 Drama 2hr 9m

In the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, two young men choose different paths. Rocket is a budding photographer who documents the increasing drug-related violence of his neighborhood, while José “Zé” Pequeno is an ambitious drug dealer diving into a dangerous life of crime.

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City of God
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Storyline

In the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, two young men choose different paths. Rocket is a budding photographer who documents the increasing drug-related violence of his neighborhood, while José “Zé” Pequeno is an ambitious drug dealer diving into a dangerous life of crime.

  • Released
    2002-08-30
  • Revenue
    $30,641,770
  • Budget
    $3,300,000
  • Runtime
    2hr 9m
  • Genre
    Drama, Crime
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    Português
  • imdb-logo
    8.6
  • Production
    O2 Filmes, VideoFilmes, Wild Bunch, Hank Levine Film & Music, Globo Filmes, Lumière

Crew

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Cast

Alexandre Rodrigues

Alexandre Rodrigues

Buscapé - Rocket
Leandro Firmino

Leandro Firmino

Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé
Phellipe Haagensen

Phellipe Haagensen

Bené - Benny
Douglas Silva

Douglas Silva

Dadinho - Li'l Dice
Jonathan Haagensen

Jonathan Haagensen

Cabeleira - Shaggy
Matheus Nachtergaele

Matheus Nachtergaele

Sandro Cenoura - Carrot
Seu Jorge

Seu Jorge

Mané Galinha - Knockout Ned
Jefechander Suplino

Jefechander Suplino

Alicate - Clipper
Alice Braga

Alice Braga

Angélica
Emerson Gomes

Emerson Gomes

Barbantinho - Stringy
Edson Oliveira

Edson Oliveira

Barbantinho Adulto - Older Stringy
Michel Gomes

Michel Gomes

Bené Criança - Young Benny
Roberta Rodrigues

Roberta Rodrigues

Berenice - Bernice
Luis Otávio

Luis Otávio

Buscapé Criança - Young Rocket
Kiko Marques

Kiko Marques

Cabeção - Melonhead
Gustavo Engracia

Gustavo Engracia

Editor do Jornal - Rogerio Reis
Darlan Cunha

Darlan Cunha

Filé-com-Fritas - Steak and Fries
Robson Rocha

Robson Rocha

Gelson - Gerson
Leandra Miranda

Leandra Miranda

Lúcia Maracanã
Graziella Moretto

Graziella Moretto

Marina Cintra
Renato de Souza

Renato de Souza

Marreco - Goose
Karina Falcão

Karina Falcão

Mulher do Paraíba - Shorty's Wife
Sabrina Rosa

Sabrina Rosa

Namorada do Galinha - Knockout's Girlfriend
Rubens Sabino

Rubens Sabino

Neguinho - Blacky
Edson Montenegro

Edson Montenegro

Pai Buscapé - Rocket's Father
Gero Camilo

Gero Camilo

Paraíba - Shorty
Daniel Zettel

Daniel Zettel

Thiago - Tiago
Charles Paraventi

Charles Paraventi

Tio Sam - Uncle Sam
Dani Ornellas

Dani Ornellas

Vizinha do Paraíba - Shorty's Neighbor
Bernardo Santos

Bernardo Santos

Caixa Baixa - Runts
Diego Batista

Diego Batista

Caixa Baixa - Runts
Diego Ferreira

Diego Ferreira

Caixa Baixa - Runts
Marcio Vinicios

Marcio Vinicios

Caixa Baixa - Runts
Micael Borges

Micael Borges

Caixa Baixa - Runts
Rafael de Castro

Rafael de Castro

Caixa Baixa - Runts
Ramon Francisco

Ramon Francisco

Caixa Baixa - Runts
Thiago Wallace

Thiago Wallace

Caixa Baixa - Runts
Alexander Cerqueira

Alexander Cerqueira

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Alexandre 'China' Tavares

Alexandre 'China' Tavares

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
André Pires Martins

André Pires Martins

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
António Rodrigues

António Rodrigues

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Bartolomeu Braga

Bartolomeu Braga

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Carlos Henrique Avernas

Carlos Henrique Avernas

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Cláudio César

Cláudio César

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Cleiton Ventura

Cleiton Ventura

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Damião Firmino

Damião Firmino

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Euclides Garcia

Euclides Garcia

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Fábio Castor Conceição

Fábio Castor Conceição

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Felipe Nogueira

Felipe Nogueira

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Ivan Martins

Ivan Martins

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
John Lima

John Lima

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Jonas Michel

Jonas Michel

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Leandro Lucas

Leandro Lucas

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Leandro Dias Batista

Leandro Dias Batista

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Lúcio Andrey

Lúcio Andrey

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Luis Carlos Rodrigues Oliveira

Luis Carlos Rodrigues Oliveira

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Luís Nascimento

Luís Nascimento

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Marcelo Mello Jr.

Marcelo Mello Jr.

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Márcio Costa

Márcio Costa

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang / Bando Cenoura
Mário Luiz Costa Oliveira

Mário Luiz Costa Oliveira

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Nelson Amaral

Nelson Amaral

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Omar 'Mazinho' Barcelos

Omar 'Mazinho' Barcelos

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Otto Amorim

Otto Amorim

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Peter Soares

Peter Soares

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Rafael de Souza

Rafael de Souza

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Roberto Miguez

Roberto Miguez

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Rómulo 'Guinomo' Sech

Rómulo 'Guinomo' Sech

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Ruy Vitório

Ruy Vitório

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Sérgio Bispo

Sérgio Bispo

Bando Zé Pequeno - Li'l Zé's Gang
Alex dos Santos

Alex dos Santos

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Anderson Bruno Marques

Anderson Bruno Marques

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Anderson Lugão

Anderson Lugão

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
André Luiz Mendes

André Luiz Mendes

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Antoni Guedes

Antoni Guedes

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Bruno Ricardo

Bruno Ricardo

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Charles Samuel

Charles Samuel

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Éder Júlio Martins

Éder Júlio Martins

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Eduardo 'BR' Piranha

Eduardo 'BR' Piranha

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Erick Maximiano Oliveira

Erick Maximiano Oliveira

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Fábio 'Dog' da Cunha

Fábio 'Dog' da Cunha

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Felipe Villela Mendonça

Felipe Villela Mendonça

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Frederico Lins

Frederico Lins

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Guilherme Estevam

Guilherme Estevam

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Guilherme William

Guilherme William

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Harlem Teixeira

Harlem Teixeira

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Leandro Gonçalves

Leandro Gonçalves

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Leandro Lima

Leandro Lima

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Leiz Moreira

Leiz Moreira

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Leonardo Melo

Leonardo Melo

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Luis Carlos Oliveira

Luis Carlos Oliveira

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Marcello Melo

Marcello Melo

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Marcello 'Máscara' Alves

Marcello 'Máscara' Alves

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Wallace Araújo

Wallace Araújo

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Wallace Nascimento

Wallace Nascimento

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Wanderson 'Petão' Lopes

Wanderson 'Petão' Lopes

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Wellington Costa Ricardo

Wellington Costa Ricardo

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Wemerson Gonçalves

Wemerson Gonçalves

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Wendel Barros

Wendel Barros

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Yuri Krushewsky

Yuri Krushewsky

Bando Cenoura - Carrot's Gang
Anderson Faria

Anderson Faria

Cocotas - Groovies
Arlindo Lopes

Arlindo Lopes

Cocotas - Groovies
Carol Meirelles

Carol Meirelles

Cocotas - Groovies
Carlos 'Lencinho' Smith

Carlos 'Lencinho' Smith

Cocotas - Groovies
Christiano

Christiano

Cocotas - Groovies
Diego Mendes

Diego Mendes

Cocotas - Groovies
Jéssica Santos

Jéssica Santos

Cocotas - Groovies
Lorena Da Silva

Lorena Da Silva

Cocotas - Groovies
Luciana Roque

Luciana Roque

Cocotas - Groovies
Marina Mandonça Pinheiro

Marina Mandonça Pinheiro

Cocotas - Groovies
Michele Gonçalves

Michele Gonçalves

Cocotas - Groovies
Pierre dos Santos

Pierre dos Santos

Cocotas - Groovies
Renan Monteiro

Renan Monteiro

Cocotas - Groovies
Vinicius Faria

Vinicius Faria

Cocotas - Groovies
Delano Valentim

Delano Valentim

Polícia - Police
Ed Money

Ed Money

Polícia - Police
Fabiano Gonçalves

Fabiano Gonçalves

Polícia - Police
Felipe Porto

Felipe Porto

Polícia - Police
Francisco Marcos

Francisco Marcos

Polícia - Police
Leo Generoso

Leo Generoso

Polícia - Police
Marcelo António Santos

Marcelo António Santos

Polícia - Police
Marcelo Araújo

Marcelo Araújo

Polícia - Police
Marcos Viana

Marcos Viana

Polícia - Police
Maurício Figueiras

Maurício Figueiras

Polícia - Police
Ricardo Lira

Ricardo Lira

Polícia - Police
Ricardo Rocha da Silva

Ricardo Rocha da Silva

Polícia - Police
Wagner Mello

Wagner Mello

Polícia - Police
Waldeck Roque

Waldeck Roque

Polícia - Police
Edward Boggis

Edward Boggis

Garoto viciado - Addicted Kid
Guti Fraga

Guti Fraga

Gerente do supermercado - Supermarket Manager
Babu Santana

Babu Santana

Grande - Big Boy
Marcello Costa

Marcello Costa

Irmão Mané Galinha - Knockout Ned's Brother
Marcos Coutinho

Marcos Coutinho

Irmão Mané Galinha - Knockout Ned's Brother
Rafael Fontenele

Rafael Fontenele

Jovem Trabalhador - Young Worker
Rosangela Rodrigues

Rosangela Rodrigues

Mãe Buscapé - Rocket's Mother
Jota Farias

Jota Farias

Motorista do DKW - Driver
Mary Sheila

Mary Sheila

Mulher do Neguinho - Blacky's Wife
Gil Torres

Gil Torres

Mulher do Ônibus - Woman on Bus
Paulo Lins

Paulo Lins

Pastor da Igreja - Shepherd of the Church
Christian Duurvoort

Christian Duurvoort

Paulista - Man from São Paulo
Olivia Araújo

Olivia Araújo

Recepcionista do Motel
Tulé Peak

Tulé Peak

Newspaper Employee (uncredited)

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Movie Reviews

Reviews for City of God
reviewer avatar

A Review by Crazypiglady

Written by Crazypiglady on 2023-05-06

It’s a great film and well worthy of its the respect it has. It’s gruelling too, the 18 rating is due to the thread running through the film... read more

It’s a great film and well worthy of its the respect it has. It’s gruelling too, the 18 rating is due to the thread running through the film of continuous and ruthless violence of gangs trying to control their drug area. The is the story told through the eyes of ‘Rocket’ who avoids getting in to the gang war of his brother and friends by trying to find a safer life. The film combines slick production without losing a genuine documentary feel which I think it is why it’s so enduring. While it achieves a feeling of reality, it isn’t specifically a true story. However, the Cidade de Deus is real (being created to rehouse the slums away from Rio de Janeiro) and this story of its underworld and the film’s production makes one believe it may not be too far from the truth. There is hope in the story but not a lot.

reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2024-05-20

Told by way of an occasionally narrated retrospective, "Rocket" (Alexandre Rodrigues) tells us a story of his childhood in the outskirts of ... read more

Told by way of an occasionally narrated retrospective, "Rocket" (Alexandre Rodrigues) tells us a story of his childhood in the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. Growing up in a community of newly built boxes, without power or plumbing, that reminded me of a row of concrete beach huts, the community is pretty lawless. The crime is largely to confined to pettier crimes, but as aspirations grow so does the scale of the criminality. A raid on a motel-cum-brothel is supposed to make everyone extra cash, but their inventive young watchman "Li'l Dice" (Douglas Silva) hates being left out and so does a little augmenting of his own. Brutal and attention grabbing. Next the cops crack down, bodies pile up and the societal order starts to change. It's this young man who grows up into the leading drug-peddling hoodlum amongst a now much more developed township where, tempered only by his more diplomatic childhood friend "Bené" (Phellipe Haagensen), the newly named "Li'l Zé" (Leandro Firmino) is ruling the roost. Curiously, his own form of government proves more stable for the residents, and although many are addicts there is a certain degree of law-and-order. Then the runts start to intervene. These are the young children with no hope, no families and only the dream of becoming their own version of "Li'l Zé" one day too. Gradually, the empire expands until it's only "Carrot" (Matheus Nachtergaele) who stands against him. When tragedy strikes very close to home for the kingpin, though, the uneasy peace between the two sections breaks out into an open warfare that drags in the sharpshooting army vet "Knockout Ned" (Seu Jorge), arms all the enthusiastic children and creates an environment that isn't safe for anyone - and where the police keep their distance in the hope that they will just all just slaughter each other. It's lucky that "Rocket" can use a camera. His boss wants publicity to illustrate how dominant and powerful he is. The newspapers want the photographs too. If the young man can walk the tightrope carefully, he might find himself well placed to capitalise on his unique access to a story that by now is gripping their nation. This is a fascinatingly well put together depiction of the worst of human nature; a dog eat dog world, where traditional humanity is scarce and the virtues of a not so benign dictatorship are exposed for all to see. The characterisations are mostly brutal and exploitative, yet there is a place for love and loyalty too amidst a poverty stricken population that craves basics like food and running water and is oblivious to death in the streets. The story is well supplemented by some engaging supporting characters like "Steak n' Fries", "Goose", "Shaggy" and "Thiago" (Daniel Zettel or is it really Timothée Chalamet?). The writing delivers powerfully but sparingly. We don't have loads of waffling dialogue, and there's also quite a bit of dark humour contained to not so much lighten the mood as to enhance the perception amongst most of the population that kill or be killed was a perfectly reasonable mantra. Firmino, Haagensen and Rodrigues deliver extremely well here in this most impressively photographed and intense look at a society where the top dog was only top by feeding and starving his followers. It's not especially graphic, I found, just a poignant look at survival of the fittest, the shrewdest and the luckiest. There's also a distinct lack of religiosity throughout, too! If you can see this at a cinema, then do - it's based on a true story and isn't an easy watch.

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by Crazypiglady

It’s a great film and well worthy of its the respect it has. It’s gruelling too, the 18 rating is due to the thread running through the film of continuous and ruthless violence of gangs trying to control their drug area. The is the story to...

reviewer avatar

A Review by Crazypiglady

Written by Crazypiglady on 2023-05-06

It’s a great film and well worthy of its the respect it has. It’s gruelling too, the 18 rating is due to the thread running through the film of continuous and ruthless violence of gangs trying to cont...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2024-05-20

Told by way of an occasionally narrated retrospective, "Rocket" (Alexandre Rodrigues) tells us a story of his childhood in the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. Growing up in a community of newly built box...

read more