Reviewed by Cassam Looch
Stars Douglas Silva, Darlan Cunha, Jonathan Haagensen,
Rodrigo dos Santos, Camila Monteiro, Naima Silva,
Luciano Vidigal, Pedro Henriquex
Written by Paulo Morelli & Elena Soarez
Certification UK 15 | US R
Runtime 106 minutes
Directed by Paulo Morelli
A spiritual successor to City of God (one of the few films I would contemplate giving a perfect score to), and descendent of the TV series City of Men, this big screen outing brims with all the energy and vibrancy of it’s predecessors ... and adds a little more soul. I’m not saying it’s as good as City of God — the originality of that film will obviously feel slightly diminished here — but the story is beautifully focused and played out.
Two childhood friends have grown up as brothers and rely on each other in the tough slums of Morro da Sinuca in Rio. Laranjinha (Darlan Cunha) has grown up without a father and for his 18th birthday Acerola (Douglas Silva) decides to track him down. Meanwhile a violent gangwar is about to erupt when Madrugadao is betrayed by his right hand man who joins the rival group intent on controlling the Hill on which the slums are built. Laranjinha and Acerola have split loyalties but remain strong and united refusing to join in, but as Laranjinha’s father show’s up and begins to explain why he was sent to prison the boys face a devastating truth.
The film is obviously set in a familiar location. Not just from its previous outings but also from the plethora of TV and Film coverage we see of the sandy beaches of Rio and the violent slums close by. The film covers these wonderfully with an excellent opening sequence which follows the central gang from the hilltop perch to beachside hunting ground. The real story here though is about fatherhood in these tough times, and as such the film provides us with universal themes that could so aptly be applied anywhere in the world today.
The young stars give excellent performances and are believable as friends who are being pulled apart. The tough decision comes in deciding if these are indeed misplaced loyalties, as the boys have nothing else to rely on. The ‘Gang’ war which is cyclical and constantly in the background is never glorified or overplayed. It’s there, it’s a reality. The boys have to deal with it, as do many innocent bystanders on the Hill. The visuals a stunning, and really capture a sense of Rio, that you would want to see. Both scary and exhilarating at the same time. The conclusion is completely unexpected and pays off the viewer without leaving you feeling short-changed. City of Men is not particularly inventive, but it is still brilliant.