Related
Fernando Meirelles ' 2002 filmCity of Godis one of the most highly - hail external films of the retiring 20 twelvemonth . With an 8.6/10 rating on IMDb , the movie is presently ranked # 22 on IMDB ’s Top 250 . The film also sport a 91 % Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes rating and a 79/100 Metascore .
Set in the slums of Rio De Janeiro , Brazil , the gritty offence pic is loosely based on the real - life history events that took position in South America during the 60 , 70s , and 80s . With undying force all around them , City of Godfollows Rocket ( Alexandre Rodrigues ) , and Lil Ze ( Leandro Firmino ) , two boy desperate to skirt a spirit of danger .
Locations
Although the crime film was shot on location in Rio De Janeiro by native Brazilian filmmaker Fernando Meirelles , the conductor admit that the actual slums ( favelas ) of Cuidad de Dues ( City of God ) were far too touch-and-go to take in . As such , the movie was filmed in neighboring areas , including Cuidad Alta .
At one spot , while filming , untrained locals who play the Runts in the film approached screenwriter Braulio Mantovani and asked if they could pen a sequel portray the gangs overtaking the city .
Casting
Meirelles was intransigent about disgorge non - actors from the Rio slumsto achieve the farthermost authenticity in the film , which is establish on Paulo Lins ' genuine - crime novel . near all of the principal performer were plucked out of their lifelike environment , admit Leandro Firmino , who hailed from the real City of God .
Firmino , who plays Lil Ze in the film , neither mean to try out for the film nor express any desire to pursue acting . He only attend the audition to support a protagonist and was offered one of two leading role on the spot .
Knockout Ned
The character of Knockout Ned is play by the famous Brazilian musician , Seu Jorge . The fictitious character ’s name is Mane Galinha in the Brazilian version but was transfer to avoid confusion . " Mane Galinha " translates to " Chicken Manuel " in Portuguese but was changed to Knockout Ned so viewers would n’t mean that Manuel is a coward ( volaille ) .
In the scene when Knockout Ned kills someone for the first time , he ’s met with cheers from several locals . The first woman to approach him is the female parent of the real - life story Knockout Ned .
Star Contracts
According to the documentaryCity of God - 10 eld Later , the two novice leading actors in the film , Rodrigues and Firmino , were offered the chance to be paid approximately R$10,000 ( $ 3,000 U.S. ) upfront or recoup a part of the box - office .
have little idea of how popular the picture show would become , both actor opted for the upfront defrayment . Had they agree to accept as little as 1 percent of the box - post , instead , both actors would have been make up 25 time more than what they bring in upfront .
Buscape’s POV
right away accompany Lil Ze ’s death at the hands of The Runts , a shot is visualize through the eyes of Buscape ( Rocket ) . The immanent POV shot was actually shoot by Alexandre Rodrigues , who plays Buscape .
Director of Photography Cesar Charlone insisted that Rodrigues film the shot himself and was intransigent about learn Rodrigues how to operate a camera . When Charlone expressed the importance of Rodrigues take the shooter himself as the character does , Meirelles fit in .
Acting Methods
According to the DVD audio comment , roughly 100 young non - acting Brazilian topical anaesthetic were recruited for a method acting - acting shop in which they trained for many months before shoot began . They practiced copy farinaceous street wars , heavy weapon - struggle , stick - ups , etc . that resulted in a wanton , improvisational set .
To channel the right moral force between Dadinho and Marreco , acting coach Fatima Toledo implored actor Renato de Souza ( Marreco ) to bully Douglas Silva ( Dadinho ) for more than two workweek . As a result of Marreco slap Dadinho in the photographic film , Silva ’s wild and tearful response was 100 % bona fide . Silva was so upturned he nearly give the moving picture .
Prayer Scene
Several ofCity of God ’s most memorable moments came from accidental moments of temporary expedient . For example , the scene in which the gangsters implore prior to battle was not scripted , according to the DVD extras .
Instead , a young local male child barf from the area ask Meirelles if they were locomote to pray prior to a virulent confrontation with adversaries , as was customary in Rio . Meirelles reply by allowing the boy to lead a entreaty ceremony , which made it into the net moving-picture show .
Final Shot Unscripted
Another memorable consequence resulting from unscripted improvisation includes the final shot of the film , in which a little boy races into the street to retrieve his missing slider .
The image begins with the little boy turn a loss his carpet slipper in the street and run back to beak it up . The felicitous fortuity occurred naturally while cinematography and Meirelles like it so much he decided to keep in the terminal snub of the movie . Other improvisational scenes include Rocket ’s speech about never taking a blistering tub and unseasoned Buscape ’s laughing scene after his comrade his slap by his father .
Charlie’s Angels Homage
AlthoughCity of Godis full of intense violence and lifelike carnage , Meirelles could n’t help but pay court to one of the campiest TV display of all prison term .
In the DVD audio commentary , Meirelles admits that the pellet of Alicate , Cabeleria , and Marreco as seen through the rear of the flatulency motortruck is like a shot airlift from theCharlie ’s AngelsTV series from the seventies . The image features all three man stand with artillery akimbo pointing in dissimilar directions .
Academy Awards
In 2003,City of Godwas Brazil ’s prescribed meekness forBest Foreign Filmat the 75th Academy Awards . While the moving picture failed to land a nomination in that category , Miramax arranged a spacious enough release for the flick in the U.S. that it ended up collect not one , but four total Oscar nods .
The film was nominated for Best Director , Best Adapted Screenplay , Best Cinematography , and Best redaction . Although the film did not advance in any category , City of Godwas the first Brazilian film to earn more than two Oscar nominations .
NEXT : Every 2000s Best Picture Winner grade
