"Meirelles' message is important, but the telling quickly becomes monotonous." Jean Lowerison SAN DIEGO METROPOLITAN "A well-made but pointless picture, it is a non-stop orgy of senseless violence, as teens and preteens slaughter each other like animals." Steve Rhodes, STEVE RHODES' INTERNET REVIEWS "Finally more numbing than emotionally shattering." Jan Stuart NEWSDAY "There's something distasteful in the rote way this film introduces us to two dozen hapless, heartless kids and doesn't care enough to make us feel for them." Wesley Morris BOSTON GLOBE "Long and difficult to watch, but it is never dull." Octavio Roca SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

"One of the most uncompromisingly bleak films I've ever seen." Lawrence Toppman CHARLOTTE OBSERVER "An extraordinary film, but definitely not for the weak of stomach." Carrie Rickey PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER "That rare film that manages to be seductively entertaining without ever compromising its authenticity and power." Megan Turner NEW YORK POST "A potent and unexpected mixture of authenticity and flash." Kenneth Turan LOS ANGELES TIMES "Sometimes a movie comes along that just floors you, its images burn so deeply." Peter Travers ROLLING STONE

The Story Set in the slums of Rio de Janiero from1960 to the mid 1980's, in an area that became knowns as the "City Of God" [Ciudad de Deus] this is an ultra violent tale that chronicles the lives of a group of young men and boys involved in brutal and deadly gang warfare. Rocket [Alexandre Rodrigues] is not cut out for a life of crime but his connections allow him access to photographs that the press clammer for. Li'l Ze [Douglas Silva] has grown from a homicidal kid into a feared gang leader. He is constantly at war with other drug dealer who recruit bands of supporters known as Runts. These young children kill anyone who gets in the way. Life is cheap on the streets in the "City Of God" where corrupt Police, drugs and the bullet rule. The Verdict "It's a big ask to get through this without feeling numbed or bored. What starts out as an exciting tale soon becomes hard to watch. Not for the great images but just for the simple fact that it is weighed down by endless violence, death and drugs. In the end "City of God" becomes buried under the weight of too much violence, too much death, too many bullets and too much darkness." The Cast & Crew

Matheus Nachtergaele Seu Jorge Alexandre Rodrigues Leandro Firmino da Hora Philippe Haagensen Johnathan Haagensen Douglas Silva Roberta Rodriguez Silvia Alice Braga Gero Camilo Darlan Cunha Renato de Souza Karina Falcão Graziela Moretto

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Sandro Cenoura Mane Galinha Buscape Ze Pequeno Bene Cabeleira Dadinho Berenice Angelica Paraíba Filé com Fritas Marreco Mulher do Paraíba Marina

Adapted from the novel by Paulo Lims Directed by Kátia Lund & Fernando Meirelles Written by Bráulio Mantovani Visual Effects Supervisor Renato Batata Cinematography by César Charlone Original Music by Ed Cortês & Antonio Pinto Film Editing by Daniel Rezende Production Design by Tulé Peak Costume Design by Bia Salgado & Inês Salgado Makeup Designer Anna Van Steen Rated R18+ [AUST] Run Time 130 minutes Copyright ©2003 - Miramax - All Rights Reserved Copyright©2003 - Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved