...Fernando Meirelles’ City of God transcends the typical gangster film dynamic. All of the gangsters, or “hoods” as they are referred to in this film, are no older than late teens or early twenties. Seen through the eyes of a young teenager attempting to become a photographer in the hoods of Rio de Janeiro, the film concentrates on the emergence, rise, war, and collapse of the infamous hood Li’l Zé. For the majority of the film Li’l Zé stands as the smartest and most powerful hood in the slums. This is pervasive not only in his dominance, but also during Li’l Zé’s climb to the top. One of the most significant scenes of this film is the transformation of Li’l Dice into Li’l Zé. Early in the film Li’l Dice stands look-out at the motel hold-up, but the viewer remains uninformed what happened to him until about twenty minutes later in the film when Li’l Zé’s story is revealed. These two points of the film are separated by the conclusion of the story of the Tender Trio. For this essay I will examine the filmmaking significance of splitting the introduction and conclusion of this scene by over twenty minutes. The first portion of this sequence begins with Li’l Dice as a young child of no more than ten years old giving a brilliant criminal idea to the Tender Trio. Li’l Dice is then told against his desire that he is not allowed to take part in the plan, but instead must stand guard and shoot out a window if the police show up as to warn Clipper, Shaggy and Goose. The shot of...
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...The foreign film that I viewed was “City of God”. It is a Brazilian film based on a true story in Rio de Janeiro. The movie followed Rocket and Li’l Dice as they grow up and decide who they would like to be. Rocket’s family sold fish and his dad was a fish monger. His brother Goose, who was against selling fish, decides that he would be a hood also know as a hoodlum. Rocket, also didn’t want to be a fishmonger, decides that he wants to be a photographer and knows that would be his only way out of the slums. Throughout the movie, Rocket has to find ways to dodge Li’l Ze. He never wanted to be a hood and always maintained his goal of becoming a photographer. He started working for a newspaper delivering papers and worked his way up. Li’l Dice was a street kid who also grew up in the same slums as Rocket. His only goal was to be the top hood. His best friend, Benny, and Li’l Dice grew up wanting to hang around the Tender Trio, which consisted of Goose, Shaggy (Benny’s brother), and Clipper. After a robbery at the local motel done by the Tender Trio and Li’l Dice, the Tender Trio all end up having to go into hiding. It was later revealed that everyone in the motel had been killed by Li’l Dice, who was only suppose to be a lookout but he was thirsty for blood. After the massacre at the motel, Li’l Dice ran off with Benny and began to rob people for money. Eventually he came back to the City of God, and ran into Goose. He shot Goose who was the last hood in the trio...
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...Lee Brazil Professor Maya Matos Intro to Film 16 February 2015 Cinema Aesthetics in City of God: A Study of Editing and the Cosmetics of Hunger This paper will focus on editing in the initial sequences of the film City of God. It will also show how the editing choices place this film in context with a movement, which is disaffectionately referred to as the Cosmetics of Hunger. City of God is a 2002 Brazilian film set in the favela, or slum of the same name. The film tells the story of a young photographer (Rocket) played by Alexandre Rodrigues, growing up in an environment of gangs and violence during a period from the 1960s up to the 1980s. The story begins with the protagonist literally in the middle of a gang war and reviewing the life events that brought his story to this point in a series of flashbacks. In the first images, a knife is rhythmically sharpened in a tempo that matches several quick, fixed cuts to and from the chicken’s point-of view. The knife accentuates the cuts in editing as the knife sounds rise in tempo, intensity and volume. Several of these juxtaposed shots create heightened meaning and awareness for the viewer and seemingly the chicken. The chicken appears increasingly more anxious as the editor creates a Kuleshovian continuity. Each successive chicken shot is blended with the rhythm of a frantic samba playing while people are dancing, cutting carrots, killing and de-feathering fated chickens for a stew that symbolizes the mise-en-scene. The...
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...degree rotational shot of Rocket in the centre of a face off between the gangsters and the police, unsure of where to turn. This is symbolic of the story of the film in that his life can take one of either direction. The narrative is then broken down into a series of vignettes which tell the story of the favela and the central characters, and ultimately which path Rocket decides to take. I argue that this film was imperative in raising awareness of both the existence of as well as the issues within the favelas in Rio de Janeiro, and was one of the first cultural representations to emerge from Brazil to show the darker side of the city and an alternate reality to what is commonly perceived about Rio, that is postcard images of beaches, sunsets and samba. Via this cultural vehicle I argue that it was possible to begin to conduct businesses in the city such as 'favela tour' and 'favela party' due to interest from foreigners in seeing and experiencing a slice of life in the favelas. Which raises the question: Did this film glorify life in the favelas, or did it depict a realistic perspective of reality? How has consciousness raising of the foreign public since affected the inhabitants of these urban spaces and has this effect been positive or negative? I argue that one of the key strengths of the film is realism. The actors are amateurs recruited from the favelas, and the central character Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues) is from the Cidade de Deus favela itself, which lends authenticity...
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...City of God/Liberating God of Life Critical Analysis Essay: The Decision You Make Determines Your Fate The cinematography was impressive and magnificent. Even though it’s fast paced the story doesn’t lose its meaning. Shocking and uplifting the movie shows the decision of two kids that take them on two different paths. The film shows hope when Rocket makes a decision to become a Photographer to get out of the slums. Lil Ze becomes mesmerized by power to be the boss of the slums, he’s obsessed using violence to gain respect. The actors played their roles well for first time actors. From opening scene the story is stunning and intense. The documentary style and compelling photography is amazing. Acting style are impressive. City of God leaves you feeling sympathy for kids that are in this cycle of violence and wrong decisions and turns. It opens to reality of the true lives of the kids who live in these areas. The opening scene of the film shows what is to come using the camera to tell the story, without dialog, a chicken looks on...
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...The city is laden with war, drugs and murder as Rocket tries to survive and his depiction captures the world for what it really is in favelas. The story of AKIRA has a similar tone; however, we are given an alternate futuristic setting where World War III ended 31 years ago, we are in Neo Tokyo instead of the Brazilian favelas, but the killing and violence remain constant. In this film, we begin with two sequences: a biker gang called The Capsules, led by Kaneda, going against The Clowns and a little boy and a man running from the police in another. The man is gunned down by the police and the boy appears to have telekinetic powers he runs away. Even after most of the Capsules ended their pursuit of the Clowns, Capsule member Tetsuo continues on,...
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...Theory Application - City of God City of God is based on the true story of slum gangs outside of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during the 1960’s and 1970’s. The movie is told from the viewpoint of Rocket, a poor fishmonger’s son, who longs to become a photographer one day and leave the violent and corrupt area. The film opens with Rocket standing in the street between the police and a gang. The movie then flashes back 10 years to tell the story of how he got there. Three hoods called “The Tender Trio” rob local businesses in a Robin Hood-type fashion, giving some of the loot to citizens of the City of God. One boy named Li’l Dice suggests they rob a local motel and all of its guests. He serves as lookout and ends up firing a phony warning shot, sending the rest of them fleeing while he goes in and slaughters the staff and occupants with a gun. The police’s presence quiets them down and all but one of the Tender Trio meets their death. The movie then fast forwards a number of years to show that Li’l Dice is now named Li’l Ze and he and his friend Benny run the drug empire in town by eliminating all but one drug dealer named Carrot. Li’l Ze is infatuated with killing and believes it is the simplest way to end his problems and take control. Benny decides to leave the gang life and move to a farm with his girlfriend and is shot and killed at his going away party by someone aiming for Li’l Ze. With Benny gone, nothing is stopping Li’l Ze from taking out the last remaining dealer, Carrot...
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...The city of god, was a fictionalized version of several true stories the plot. The film revolves around following the lives of two characters, Rocket and Li’l Dice, from their childhood, under authority of the previous generation, until the generation following them takes the reigns of power. It’s a storytelling method that prioritizes powerful and compelling characters with the explicit purpose of illuminating the world of Rio de Janeiro, a place where that generational spread occurs in only twenty years, violence dictates success, and success represents a spiraling downward of the city. In this world, poverty is implicit. The people have only a few viable career options (work low level jobs for low wages, farm for self-sustenance, or join with a gang through which all economic and military power in the city is derived). The film shows how they would steal but also try selling fish in the streets as a way of making money. The film didn't show any real jobs or ways teenagers and/or adults could possibly make good money. Li’l Dice, representing all the most negative qualities that result from mistreatment, lack of education, poor environment and lack of support structure. He grew up to see only two motivations in life (money and power). As Rio de Janeiro expands and its need for thievery to survive dissipates, the criminal lifestyle stays intact and expands along with the city due to the criminal culture and way of life that’s already been established. Li’l Dice overthrows...
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...AN EXPLANATION OF AUGUSTINE’S CONCEPTION OF THE CITY OF GOD, A DICHOTOMY BETWEEN THE HEAVENLY CITY AND EARTHLY CITY. St. Augustine was an influential philosopher who lived in the fourth and fifth century AD. He conceived the world to be made up of two cities namely the earthly city and the heavenly city (the city of God). The city of God as conceived by Augustine is founded on the hope of heavenly peace and spiritual salvation. The main purpose of the city of God is to save mankind from sin and sufferings. This city is inhabited by holy persons and angels sacrificing self-interest and worshiping God only. These angels and holy persons do not look after their personal interest and have great regard for morality and ethics. The earthly city on the other hand was conceived by Augustine to be founded on appetitive and possessive impulses that are found in the lower categories of animals. The inhabitants of the earthly city are basically concerned with their personal interest. They do not have regard for morality, virtue and ethics. The inhabitants of the earthly city are usually willing to do anything so long as their parochial interest will be served. The inhabitants of the earthly city are more or less slaves of their desires and thus forget the will and wishes of God. They also forget to worship him. The behavior and attitude of the inhabitants of the heavenly city is that of goodliness and sacrifice. Because the heavenly city is inhabited by angels and holy persons, goodliness...
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...In the City of God, the two main characters Rocket and Lil Dice, later known as Lil Ze, grow up in the same favela but become two completely different people. At a young age, Lil Ze wanted to be a part of a gang. He always tried to get in with the bigger boys. On the other hand, Rocket never participated in gang activities. He wanted to become a photographer. One night, Lil Ze and the older boys robbed a motel. After the other boys left, Lil Ze smiled and laughed as he killed all the guests of the hotel. Lil Ze became more violent as time continued. However, when Rocket tried to rob people, he could not bring himself to hurt them and never followed through. Although he was surrounded by violence and theft, he ultimately did not take part in...
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...Discuss the extent to which Roman ideas about their gods and the foundation of their city were influenced by Greek mythology. Ancient Rome is filled with history of great wars and heroes, the mighty and the fallen. They were renowned conquers becoming one of the largest empires of their time. The romans were skilled finding their strengths in the engineering industry as well as the law. Although this ancient civilisation existed millenniums ago, they still effect the times of today. A prime example of this is the language, English. Romans spoke Latin and as they conquered and settled through Europe, “Latin fused with the native languages,” creating the romance languages of today; “Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese… and Catalan.” The vocabulary of English has also largely derived from the Latin language. Although the current times of today have been influenced by the times of the ancients, the Romans however were influenced to an extent by the ancient Greek’s civilisation. By the 2nd century BC, Rome had a very evident impact from the culture of the Greeks. Greeks had begun to settle on the south then later migrating further north of Italy’s peninsula, and occupying the city of Sicily. There is neither exact date nor event that stipulates the cross of two nations however events such as the Macedonian and Carthage wars of Roman conquest would have aided in the direct contact to Greek colonization. The influence of Greece can be seen throughout every aspect of a Romans...
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... could ever prove to be the real eternal city on Earth. In 410 AD, Visigoth leader Alaric and his armies sacked Rome. This defeat was a momentous event in Rome’s downfall, as it put an end to the “Eternal” Roman Empire. Christian convert and author Augustine wrote City of God, which described his reaction to the fall of Rome and his view of Rome being a corrupted city, when compared to the infinite and eternal City of God. While Augustine believed that the City of God and City of Man were independent of each other, his former pupil, Orosius, believed that the City of God worked within the City of Man. Orosius, although he was taught by Augustine, held a different view than his teacher. Orosius viewed Rome to be an eternal city that was favored by the City of God and he believed that the City of God and City of Man were connected. Augustine's ideas...
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...In the beginning God create the heavens and the earth. At the time the earth was like a void, darkness everywhere consuming the planet, and God said four words, “and let there be light.” Then there on that planet earth God separated light from dark. He blessed the light and called the light day, and he cursed the dark and called it night. The second day has arrived. God then said the waters from waters, and called to the expansion of heaven. The third day came. God wanted to fill the gap in the water, so God created dry land, and made the gathered water seas. Now he said there should be vegetation on the earth. The third day has passed. God said let there is the expansion of time telling from the seasons, and let there be light at night call it stars. The fourth day has passed. God then created every living creature to roam the earth, and blessed the bird. The fifth day has passed. God said I must make man I will make man in my own image of me, and blessed these creatures. The sixth day has passed. On the day of Creation God rested. God made a deal with man everything you see on earth is yours, for this is Eve’s garden. You may take any fruit, except the tree of knowing good and evil. If you eat the tree of knowing of good from evil you will surely die. Later the serpent temps Eve to go and eat the forbidden apple. At first she said no put in the serpents crafty ways, he convinced Eve into eating the apple. Not only was he able to trick Eve but also he made Eve convince Adam...
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...“corrupting the young, and not acknowledging the gods of the city acknowledges, but new daimonic activities instead” (Morgan 2005, 51). Throughout Plato’s Apology and Euthyphro Socrates uses complex rhetoric to challenge the charges brought against him based on his thoughts and understanding of what is right and wrong. He never once states he is not guilty nor does he provide reasons to support his innocence. He suggests rather that he is on a divine mission stating “this is what the god orders me to do, and I think there is no greater blessing for the city than my service to the god” (Morgan 2005, 55). Socrates uses his trial as an opportunity to show inconsistencies in the charges themselves, through questioning his accusers. Socrates remains true to him-self, a philosopher, and finds fulfillment out of the process rather than the outcome “…for the unexamined life is not worth living for men…” (Morgan 2005, 60) Socrates should be found guilty as his intentions to continue to practice the life of a philosopher may not have been morally wrong, his methods however unlawful during Athenian times. Socrates was not a member of a modern day society where innovative thought was encouraged, and freedom of speech tolerated. He chose to be a member of Athenian society therefore needed to conform to the requirements set out by the city. Suggesting other God’s and questioning the Gods of the city do not meet the requirements of the city. He ultimately does corrupt the young through speaking...
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...the many earliest civilizations to start in the world specifically in Southern Mesopotamia more than 5000 years ago. Beginning in 5,500 years ago, the Sumerians built cities along the rivers in Mesopotamia and made advances in technology. The sumerians had an interesting way of life. Including organized governments, complex religions, job specializations, social classes, unique art and new public works and writing systems. In the paragraphs below readers will be able to learn more about each of these more in depth. Government and Religion were closely connected in Sumer. The cities were considered property of the gods and Sumerians were expected to do what the gods asked of them as the message was invoked through the priest-kings making them the ruler of the city-state. This form of government was Theocratic. Each city-state worshiped its own god...
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