'City of God' comments on power, poverty and confilct

What is the film saying about the society it depicts? is there a moral message?
The narrative of the film, told heavily through the eyes of 'Rocket', right from his days as a child to becoming a young adult, show the City of God (Rio De Jenerio) to be a city crawling with gang warfare and danger. From the 'Tender Trio' to the takeover by Lil 'Ze, and finally the Runts, the business of a city patrolled by drug lords and gunfire hangs over the city throughout the film. However, at one pint during the film, someone suggests that to part of a gang, you need 'more than a gun', you need to have 'ideas' to be accepted as part of a gang, which indicates that showing off your killing skills isn't enough to be accepted - you have to be able to find a reason as well. Tough initiations to be a part of a gang, indicating that not just 'anyone' can join in.

Does it have a documentary style or does the cinematography reference another film from another genre?
The story of the film is told heavily on the experiences of 'Rocket' who we first see as a young boy and finally a young adult. It is as if he is reflecting on his time spent around the city. As such, the narrative is often interrupted by Rocket whenever a new character appears on screen. Rocket briefly introduces them, but first says that their story is not yet ready to be told. In this fashion, he is inter-linking a range of different sub-plots. In a sense, the film could probably be narrated as if it were a documentary, as Rocket is giving us an explanation of how the heavy drug trade is operated and by giving us an in-sight to the gang warfare actions.

Was there any controversy when it was released?
At the time of release, the film gained the attention of nay of Brazil's key figures. The then president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, was urged to watch the film, in order to 'understand the extent of the urban tragedy in Brazil'. Arnaldo Jabor, an intellectual from Brazil, commented that 'City of God' is "not only a film" but an "important fact. A crucial statement" and "a hole" in the national consiecne of Brazil. Director Walter Salles commented that there are over 40,000 violent deaths in Brazil that take place each year, and the deaths in urban areas are often caused by drug gang confrontations, dealers and the police. The director had planned 'City of God' to explain how Brazil ended up in this state.

The Director explores how the drug trade developed in the city throughout the years, from the families seeking refuge in the slums of Rio De Janerio in the 1960's to changes caused in the 70's/80's by the arrival of the first large-scale drug dealers, creating their own forms of justice. Cocaine became the drug of choice and dealers were able to recruit young children into dealing, widening their control over the slums. the arrival of even more machine guns increased the national death toll.