City of God, Movie Review Example

The title in itself follows the distinct title of the original novel by Paulo Lins. The story lines however were changed and extended to specifically feature the current situations happening in Cidad de Deus in Rio de Janeiro. It tries to depict some of the most compelling scenes in the society with regards organized crimes and the growing number of crimes within the area. It follows a distinct tagline that notes, ‘if you run, the beast catches, if you stay, the beast eats’. This specific tagline promotes the indication on how hart it was to survive in the society considering the situations that the people had to contend with during the time.

In terms of culture, the film presented a distinct measure of cultural definition on how the people of the community reacted to the situations that they were subjected to. The three supposedly ‘hero gangsters’ who loot grocery stores for the poor try to represent the principle of being a Robin Hood of the Janeiro community. Although they were considered bandits by the business owners, they were considered as heroes by the poor. The scene that represents the element of cultural definition in the film was that of the time when the younger gangs are presented to idolize the trio as if passing on a legacy to a younger generation of gangs who want to follow their steps. This has been shown through Li’l Dice who served as a lookout on one of their robbing appointments.

On the other hand, the element of code switching was applied in the film specifically involving the classes in the community utilize a particular language-pattern that defines their status in the community. Apparently, the huge division among individuals in the community particularly based on their economic standing affected the being of the people along with the way they defined their role in the community as either bandits or as heroes that support the needs of the poor ones. This was imposed during a scene showing Benny’s farewell party.

Perception checking on the other hand could be seen to have been applied in presenting the standing of the police officers in relation to the situation being presented in the film. The attention of the police force was divided. They were prompted by their duty to become specifically protect the victims, however, seeing the condition of those poor individuals in the community [to which some of them belong to], the police force’s concern for the community and the business owners specifically challenge their understanding of the position that they take in relation o the authority placed upon their shoulders regarding their role as peace keepers in the community. They were challenged to perceive what was right and what was wrong depending on their opinion.

From the point of the Tender trio’s birth in the community, the birth of other gangs spurred to present the real situations in the city. There were other gangs that were less concerned that the tender trio. They do what they do, just because they want to. They were not for the poor people, nor were they for the businessmen. They were for themselves, they wanted to please themselves, take the most out of everything they see in the community to specifically suffice their needs. They did not care who they run over in the hope of sufficing their demands. They simply want to focus on how they are going to be satisfied with what they do. In the end, they are presented as the predators of the community. Those who are not able to follow through their demands and specifically respond to their commands end up specifically disdained sometimes killed because of their unwillingness to follow what the gangs demand for.

The expectations violations theory have been further applied in the film in support of presenting how gangs then and now are correlated and how they affect the community and the life of the people living within the said areas. The entire plot of the movie shows this particular aspect of film direction through showing the birth of gangs from one group to another thus intentionally showing how the expectations on new gangs shaped their culture and the way they lived alongside other gangs that could either strengthen or threaten their bonds. In return, people in the area have no choice but to follow through the process and authorization of the gangs on some of the most compelling situations that the ordinary members of the community are involved with. Most often than not, the chaotic situations in the society create massive distress among the people, while others simply learn to adapt to the matter. With this picture in mind, it could be observed how the movie tried to define the facts and make a distinct approach in mandating conditions of the society that specifically affected the thinking and the attitude of the people. Most likely, such mirror does create a perfect presentation on how people in the area are trying to survive everyday life thus calling out to the authorities who could act on the matter to positively affect the communities as much as needed and as much as they can.

Work Cited

Fox, Killian (19 October 2010). “City of God: No 6 best action movie and war film of all time | Film | The Guardian”. The Guardian (London).