City of God 2002

Overview

City of God is a 2002 drama and crime film set in the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro. The story follows two young men who choose different paths as they grow up in the neighborhood during the 1970s. Rocket is a budding photographer who works to document the increasing drug-related violence occurring around him. In contrast, José Pequeno, also known as Zé, is an ambitious drug dealer who chooses to dive into a dangerous life of crime. The film explores the diverging lives of these two individuals amidst the volatile environment of their community. The production has a runtime of two hours and nine minutes and received a release in the United States on January 17, 2003. The narrative is framed by the thematic observation that if you run, the beast catches you, and if you stay, the beast eats you. This film is categorized within the drama and crime genres and is documented as a feature-length motion picture.