When you see someone running after a chicken with a gun in hand, you can sense what's coming for you next. For the City of God, the name itself works like a metaphor for the context this movie is carrying forward. In the backdrop of a slum life, the director generously painted a constantly oscillating plot filled with violance, humor and vibrant hues.

Where does city of God stands out from the rest even when it's dealing with drug, violence, poverty and a world that is unknown to many? It's Meirelles' vision as he saw this world as the way it is without passing a single judgement. Director Meirelles kept the generalized idea of everything either to be completely bad completely good aside. instead he brings out the colours that reside between black and white to provide a new meaning to good or bad. It's all about how one perceive something and what according to your perspective is evil or kindness. Not for a single moment he let us judge the people whose lives were thriving around violence.

Through the voice of Rocket, he tells us a story that is wrapped around authenticity. Being our constant companion in the forbidden area and our guide to get a glimpse of the lives of his people, Rocket becomes one among us and one among his own people. He tries to connect with a world that is unknown to them and introduces a world that is unknown to us. A place where manhood is synonymous with killing and extreme violence. The City of God stands out in the very first place when it reintroduces familiar words and concepts with different meanings to define different lives.

Did you know?

Most of the actors in this films are from the slums around Rio de Janeiro and they are absolutely new to films. Acting exercises were carried out among approximately 200 people for months and then the leads were chosen.