City of God

Style and substance tenaciously combine in this visually stunning and gripping exploration of the rise of organised crime in the titular Rio favela. Twenty-one years after it dazzled audiences on its original UK release, we’re delighted to present this searing adaptation of Paulo Lins’ novel back on the big screen. Loosely based on actual events, the film charts the history of organised crime in City of God and the suburb itself. It opens in the 1960s, when the area was a new kind of public housing project, and amateur thieves the ‘Tender Trio’ rob a motel. They find out the hard way that their young accomplice, L’il Dice, is not to be trifled with. Another resident, Rocket, wants to be a photographer and to avoid a criminal life. From there, the film widens its canvas to paint a rich and colourful portrait of a world brimming with vitality but riddled with crime. César Charlone’s bravura cinematography captures the kinetic energy and chaos of the environment, while the stunning performances – the cast were mostly drawn from Rio’s favelas – make this an unforgettable experience.

Simon Duffy, Programme and Research Manager