City Of God Flashcards
(16 cards)
Performance – How does performance in the opening scene convey meaning in City of God?
The jubilant, fast-paced chicken chase and shouting create chaos, symbolising being predator or prey in a violent system.
Performance – What does Lil Ze’s performance during the motel massacre reveal?
His manic laughter, erratic gestures, and loud voice show violence driven by thrill and insecurity – shaped by poverty and crime.
Mise-en-Scène – How does the mise-en-scène in the opening favela scene establish tone?
Cluttered streets and vibrant noise create a frenetic, dangerous world – immersing viewers in the favela’s chaotic energy.
Mise-en-Scène – What does the apartment scene’s changing mise-en-scène represent?
It reflects the cycle of violence – transforming from a warm, homely space to a cold, prison-like environment.
Aesthetics & Themes – How does the opening ‘chicken chase’ scene use aesthetics to reflect key themes?
Handheld camera, fast editing, and bright natural light create chaos – reflecting survival and the blurred line between prey and predator.
Aesthetics & Themes – How does Lil Ze’s rise montage communicate the theme of escalating violence?
Fragmented editing, grainy filters, and freeze frames create a disjointed, documentary feel – showing violence intensifying over time.
Aesthetics & Themes – How is the cycle of violence shown in the City of God apartment scene?
The same space evolves with lighting, props, and characters, showing a shift from playful dealing to hardened criminality.
Aesthetics & Themes – What does Rocket’s photography say about perspective in City of God?
Stable, composed shots when Rocket holds the camera contrast with surrounding chaos – reflecting themes of observation, participation, and resistance.
Cinematography & Sound – How is cinematography used in the chicken chase scene to reflect favela life?
Handheld camera, fast cuts, and extreme close-ups create chaos and urgency, showing the theme of entrapment in a violent system.
Cinematography & Sound – How do camera movement and angles affect meaning in the motel massacre scene?
Close-ups and long takes create a sense of inevitability and claustrophobia, with calm tracking making Lil Ze’s violence feel more chilling.
Cinematography & Sound – What does the framing in the motel massacre scene reveal about Lil Ze’s role?
Victims are shown in tight frames while Lil Ze remains central in wider shots, showing his dominance and the gang’s focus on him.
Cinematography & Sound – How does the use of silence in Knockout Ned’s death scene affect the audience?
The brief pause after the shot amplifies the emotional weight of his death, emphasising its finality before chaos resumes.
Contextual Factors & Aesthetic – How does the aesthetic in the chicken chase scene reflect Brazilian favela life?
Handheld camera, fast editing, vibrant colours, and cluttered mise-en-scène create a chaotic realism, reflecting the social instability and danger of the favelas.
Contextual Factors & Aesthetic – What is the aesthetic impact of the Brazilian social context in City of God?
A raw, documentary-style realism that conveys urgency, danger, and unpredictability of poverty-stricken life.
Contextual Factors & Aesthetic – How do real events and non-professional actors shape the apartment scene?
The evolving use of the same location, with changes in costume, lighting, and behaviour, shows the drug trade’s grip on community life.
Contextual Factors & Aesthetic – What is the aesthetic impact of using real events and non-professional actors?
It reinforces the film’s role as a social commentary—a reflection of systemic failure and inequality, not just stylised violence.
