City Of God Flashcards
(6 cards)
Cinematography in the “chicken chase” scene
Handheld camera (esp. during chase scenes) → Creates visceral realism; immerses viewer in the danger and chaos of favela life.
• Natural lighting in exterior shots → Enhances documentary-like authenticity, contrasts with the darkness of interiors (moral contrast).
• High-angle shots over the favela → Emphasise poverty and systemic neglect, visually dwarfing characters beneath the landscape.
• Tracking shots through narrow alleyways → Reflect claustrophobia, tension, and the inescapable cycle of violence.
• Extreme close-ups (e.g., on Rocket’s face, the gun, the chicken) → Forces audience focus on fear, consequence, and emotional tension.
Editing in City of God “chicken chase” scene
• Non-linear narrative → Begins in media res, jumps back in time (“Let me tell you how we got here”), showing how violence and power evolve generationally.
• Fast-paced montages → Used to depict escalating violence (e.g. Lil Ze’s rise to power) efficiently and with intensity.
• Freeze-frames & name captions → Break the fourth wall, introduce characters quickly, stylise violence (comic-book/crime-genre feel).
• Parallel editing → Highlights differences in lifestyle between Rocket (observer) and Lil Ze (violent participant).
Sound and aesthetic in City of God “chicken chase” scene
• Diegetic samba/funk music → Local identity, youthful energy, cultural context — sometimes used ironically against violent images.
• Sudden silences → Emphasise fear or the brutality of a moment (e.g. when children are shot).
• Voiceover narration (Rocket) → Frames the story through a neutral but emotionally involved perspective, gives personal insight while guiding viewer interpretation.
• High-saturation colour grading (especially golden yellows and burnt oranges) to reflect the searing Brazilian heat and vibrant culture — but also to distort and intensify the world of violence.
• Fast-paced visual rhythm, driven by sharp edits, freeze frames, and character captions, creating an aesthetic that’s both engaging and overwhelming — reflecting the intensity of favela life.
• Street realism with slick cinematic polish — a hybrid aesthetic that makes poverty and violence accessible to global audiences without romanticising it.
Mise-en-scene in City of God “chicken chase” scene
• Costumes → Barefoot kids, flip-flops, makeshift clothes → signals poverty and informality.
• Weapons in the hands of children → Normalises violence; adds shocking contrast between innocence and corruption.
• The favela itself → A maze-like, closed-off world; characters are trapped both physically and socially.
Historical and political context in City of God
🇧🇷 Historical & Social Context
• Set in 1960s–1980s Rio de Janeiro, reflecting real stories from the Cidade de Deus (City of God) housing project.
• Originally built to house the poor away from the wealthy centre → became neglected, overpopulated, and dominated by gang violence.
• Based on true events and real people, adapted from Paulo Lins’ semi-autobiographical novel.
💣 Political Context
• Government failure to address poverty and crime → leads to self-policing through gangs.
• Film critiques Brazilian institutions (police, housing, welfare) for allowing entire communities to become marginalised and ruled by violence.
• Police corruption shown repeatedly (e.g. letting Lil Ze go for bribes, threatening Rocket).
Analysis of the rape scene in City of God
🎬 Film Form:
• Muted colour palette and slowed pacing contrast sharply with the film’s normally kinetic editing, forcing the audience to sit with the trauma.
• Close-ups on characters’ faces rather than the act itself centre the emotional weight rather than sensationalising violence.
• Sound design — minimal or silent — adds to the discomfort, denying the audience a dramatic release or musical cue to soften the impact.
🧠 Character Construction:
• The rape is a narrative turning point — it pushes Knockout Ned from pacifist to vengeance-driven gangster, illustrating how trauma fuels the cycle of violence.
• It further demonises Lil Ze, constructing him as not just a violent gangster but someone who uses power to humiliate and dehumanise others — reinforcing his role as a symbol of corruption and unchecked masculinity.
🧱 Ideological Impact:
• Challenges the audience to consider the invisible costs of gang power: women are often sidelined or victimised, rarely granted agency.
• Exposes the gendered dynamics of favela violence — violence against women is systemic and often goes unpunished.
• Offers a grim comment on toxic masculinity and how trauma perpetuates more trauma in marginalised communities.
