City of God is an action-packed, high-drama Brazilian crime film that follows the lives of several young men whose lives take a drastic turn as a city that they once knew. falls due to drugs, crime, violence and corruption. In my essay, I will focus on three young men in particular who all seemed consumed by the chaos around them. Through a series of punchy montages, sharp camera cuts, intense images and vivid narration, the film comes to life to depict the reality of life in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, and also helps to develop the personality of each character. begins with an extremely close-up shot of what appears to be a very sharp blade scraping a rock to make it sharper. The camera cuts back and forth from a blank screen to the blade, making it difficult to see in its entirety, but very easy to hear, leaving the audience hanging, not knowing what the blade will be used for . In addition to the sound of blades sharpening, rhythmic Spanish music, paired with other stringed instruments, can be heard playing in the background. As the scene develops, the audience gets more crosscuts and close-ups of what appears to be the preparation of a meal; peeled carrots, boiling water, skinned chickens and other things of that nature. It turns out that the blade was actually used to kill chickens for this meal, suggesting that the film must be set in a rural area or somewhere far from civilization where people must fend for themselves. Shots of people dragging their bare feet in the dirt to the beat of the music also let the audience know that the film could be set in a poor location, perhaps even a slum. Drinks are served and people are crazy... middle of paper... limited. For most, it was kill or be killed. Both Rocket and Lil Z' hail from the same place, born with the same pros and cons, but followed two very different life paths. One was going down a very dark and cold path, while the other was heading towards something much brighter. Ned was like a combination of Rocket and Lil Z', but the city ended up changing him for the worse. The frenetic editing from one shot to the next was done both to demonstrate the chaos that reigns in the slums, but also to hold the viewers' attention. The rapid editing and other cinematic elements all helped reveal the true identities of each of the characters. The film transforms every detail of the narrative into a scene full of detail and rich composition where viewers can easily follow what appears to be a complex story filled with gangsters, crime and violence..