Alexandre Rodrigues,
Leandro Firmino da Hora,
Matheus Nachtergaele,
Phelipe Haagensen,
Seu Jorge
... see more 
Fernando Meirelles' City of God is a sweeping tale of how crime affects the poor population of Rio de Janeiro. Though the narrative skips around in time, the main focus is on Cabeleira who formed a ga... read more
Directed by: Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund
Release Date: January 17, 2003
DVD Release Date: June 8, 2004
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Stats: 18,673 reviews
Your Rating
Flixster Reviews (18,673)
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September 14, 2011fb634552688Disturbing does not come close to describing some of the scenes in this film, but what's even more disturbing is the fact that many of those scenes happen every day in some places.
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September 10, 2011fb1216165431City Of God accounts a photojournalist's first-hand true story narrative on the roots and cycle of crime and violence and the ironic cruelties of life set Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Shocking, disturbing, and devastating epic, yet powerful and compelling. A staggering masterpiece.
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July 31, 2011A compelling account of a 1970s gang war in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, "City of God" manages to not only entertain the audience as we might be entertained during any violent inner-city story, but it also manages to set aside time to explore its main characters, creating a Lord-... read more
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July 31, 2011fb729949618Raw movie filled with greed and struggle, keeping you gripped throughout.
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January 30, 2011Magnificent, powerful and totally compelling.
I felt transported into the City of God whilst watching this film, the director really makes you feel every inch of the film and care for and despise some of the characters.
It's a solid yet exciting film with faultless p... read more -
January 15, 2011I dont always watch foreign films but City of God is sooooo good! The story was beautiful, the editing was spot on, and the dialogue was intense. Showing the rough lifestyle of people in Rio de Janiero, Rocket attempts to become a photographer while exiting the city of god and it... read more
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October 2, 2010One of the closest things to a perfect film I have ever seen. Brilliant doesn't quite describe how brilliant this film is. Excellent in every way! One of my favorites and one of the best. You absolutely must see this.
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June 12, 2010Cidade de Dues (City of God) is a story of the "favelas", the slums of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and the hardships of the people living there, just trying to get by and survive the violent envornment they live in. Two friends are at the heart of the story striving to make ends mee... read more
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May 17, 2010Technically this is a great film and I loved watching the characters grow and the cinematography was great. It really shows the class divide in Rio and I just lvoed the setting. The acting was really good and natural. I didn't really like the story and I didn't find it entertaini... read more
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March 20, 2010A great film based on a true story of the life of a group of friends growing up in the slums of Rio. Drawn into a violent life of crime, drugs and murder from a young age. The way it charts the life of the friends and brothers through the years and how their actions effect them i... read more
Critic Reviews
November 8, 2011
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
June 17, 2009
David Rooney, Variety
City of God delivers a bruising, visceral experience of the vicious spiral of violence that draws kids into a life of crime, brutality and murder as the only avenue open to them. Full Review
May 19, 2004
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Difficult to watch but hard to look away from. Full Review
March 11, 2004
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
The living conditions it projects are as horrendous as I had feared, but the movie is surprisingly easy to take as a rollicking homicidal entertainment. Full Review
March 20, 2003
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Hard to watch but even harder to tear your eyes away from.
March 14, 2003
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
Meirelles takes us to a real-life deathtrap and then proceeds to make us feel twice as alive for the time we spend there.
March 7, 2003
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
It rings with the kind of truths we'd rather evade. Full Review
March 7, 2003
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle
An incredibly assured, compelling and often sardonically funny piece of filmmaking. Full Review
March 7, 2003
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
Rivets attention and rattles the conscience.
March 7, 2003
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic
Traffic was brilliant fiction, but City of God proves that true stories often pack the most punch.
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Cidade de Deus (City of God)
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