City of God

February 5, 2004 7:30 AM

Cidade de Deus. Possibly the best Brazilian film ever made.
posted by the fire you left me (20 comments total)

I keep hearing about it. The problem with great foreign films is waiting for them to come out on DVD. June 8 2004 in this case.
posted by stbalbach at 7:58 AM on February 5, 2004

Its back in theatres and well worth seeing there!
posted by Pollomacho at 8:04 AM on February 5, 2004

No offense, but I don't think a link to a publicity site for a film is considered a good front-page post. Couldn't you at least find a thought-provoking review or something?
posted by languagehat at 8:18 AM on February 5, 2004

very good, yes. but Pixote was better. and harsher.
posted by matteo at 8:20 AM on February 5, 2004

i agree. city of god was absolutely superb... i was puzzled when i did not see it in last years oscar line up ...must not have made the cut.

it is required viewing - big screen if you can.

magnificent movie - and i'm a tough critic.
posted by specialk420 at 8:22 AM on February 5, 2004

stbalbach, the DVD is out in Europe if you don't want to wait. (And have a region-free player)
posted by Ljubljana at 8:32 AM on February 5, 2004

I'm with languagehat. This film is well known and an Oscar contender -- not exactly obscure. Not a great FPP.
posted by LittleMissCranky at 8:33 AM on February 5, 2004

If you are in Tokyo, it is playing at the Roppongi Hills Virgin Cinema until tomorrow (Friday).

You can reserve seats online here. (There are still plenty of seats available.)

Since it is an older movie, you can see it for 1,000 yen on the Premier Screen.

Note: Premier Screen tickets are usually 3,000 yen.

I highly recommend both the movie and the Premier Screen. :)

If you have some time after the movie, the Curtain Call Cafe and Bar right next to the Premier Screen is quite nice, too.
posted by cup at 9:08 AM on February 5, 2004

Interpol is the greatest band ever.
posted by eastlakestandard at 9:17 AM on February 5, 2004

City of God is indeed a wonderful movie. It makes me so supremely angry that the movie industry could spend millions plugging crap while incredible movies like this have highly limited screenings. Even post-Golden Globes, pre-Oscar hype can't get City of God to my area, which is why I take this opportunity to send a middle finger to the movie industry as a whole. Enjoy.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 9:58 AM on February 5, 2004

Anybody know if the rumour that many of the young local actors in this have been killed since the release of the film is true?

They have a pretty strong tradition for extreme horror movies in Brazil, the toxic avenger is in good taste in comparison.
posted by asok at 10:26 AM on February 5, 2004

City of God is fun enough but Terra en Transe would be my pick for Brazil's best, or at least some film by Glauber Rocha, the nation's greatest director. More on Brazilian Cinema Novo.
posted by liam at 10:57 AM on February 5, 2004

Have any of you seen Cronicamente inviável? I liked that a lot.
posted by Utilitaritron at 11:32 AM on February 5, 2004

Orfeu Negro is pretty cool as far as classics go. City of God was definitely one of the best films I've seen on the big screen in a great while.
posted by Pollomacho at 11:40 AM on February 5, 2004

Who directed City of God? You read an interview with Meirelles and you'd think it was just him. I mean, the Oscar nomination is in his name. Amazon though thinks it was someone else. IMDB seems to get nearer the truth.

So why no nomination for Lund?
posted by ciderwoman at 11:47 AM on February 5, 2004

She's listed as a "co-director" but Meirelles is simply listed, in most things that have both, as "director."
posted by Pollomacho at 12:02 PM on February 5, 2004

City of God was an amazing film, but Black Orpheus remains the best Brazilian film ever - winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Film 1959 [I'm pretty sure] and the one of the best films I have ever seen.
posted by fellorwaspushed at 5:06 PM on February 5, 2004

cup, thanks for your comment. I am going to go tonight see the movie at Roppongi Hills!
posted by gen at 6:35 PM on February 5, 2004

gen, glad I could be of assistance.

If you get a chance to go to the Curtain Call Cafe right beside the Premier Screen, definitely ask for the Kinako Ice Cream. It is not on the menu but I just telephoned them and it is still available today. Super desert and I haven't found it anywhere else.

Also, one of the waiters there (Mr. Kimura) is a really nice guy and can recommend some good deserts if the Kinako Ice Cream is sold out by the time you get there.

Have fun! :)

the fire you left me: thank you for the FPP and sorry for straying off-topic.
posted by cup at 7:44 PM on February 5, 2004

So why no nomination for Lund?

There's an interview with Katia Lund in today's guardian about her lack of co-nomination.
posted by biffa at 1:56 AM on February 6, 2004