The DVD Dissection: City of Men
Posted by Chad Webb on 07.09.2008
An elegant and energetic story about two friends in Rio de Janeiro. If you liked City of God, you'll like this.
Douglas Silva: Acerola
Darlan Cunha: Laranjinha
Jonathan Haagensen: Madrugadao
Rodrigo dos Santos: Heraldo
Camila Monteiro: Cristiane
Naima Silva: Camila
Eduardo “BR” Piranha: Nefasto
Luciano Vidigal: Fiel
Pedro Henrique: Caju
Vinicius/Vitor Oliveira: Clayton
Directed By: Paulo Morelli
Written By: Elena Soarez and Paulo Morelli
Theatrical Release Date: February 29, 2008
DVD Release Date: July 1, 2008
Running Time: 1 hour and 46 minutes
R for violent content, language and some sexuality.
The Film
In 2002, the world was given a penetrating view into the violence that swallows Rio de Janeiro with City of God. That is a masterpiece that rests comfortably in my top 50 films of all-time. It was directed by Fernando Meirelles (The Constant Gardener) and co-directed by Katia Lund. After the success and acclaim it received, a television series spin-off was launched that same year entitled City of Men. Point in fact, Meirelles also helmed a short film called Palace II, which acted as a dry run for City of God.
The television show was watched by over 35 million people in Brazil. I decided I should give it a try myself. After completing all the episodes, I can safely say that City of Men is a heartwarming, funny, and genuinely engaging series that followed two friends named Laranjinha and Acerola, who live in a favela (slum) of Rio de Janeiro. In many ways, the first half of the show was just as multifaceted and extraordinary as City of God. Meirelles directed multiple episodes, as did Katia Lund. Unfortunately, as the third and fourth seasons unraveled, the writers and directors continued to vary, both in name and technique. Despite persistently marvelous performances by leads Douglas Silva and Darlan Cunha, the stories dissolved into sitcom silliness. Nevertheless, it is fantastic as a whole.
Three years after the conclusion of the series, Silva and Cunha have returned to these parts, the same two kids who starred in Palace II, the aforementioned short. City of Men is in some fashion a sequel to City of God, not to mention an adaptation of the series City of Men, and a continuation of it. The movie received a very brief limited release in the United States. I was relieved that Director Paulo Morelli developed a fresh tale that is accessible to both fans of the franchise and to those who are just now being sucked into the experience.
Wallace, nicknamed Laranjinha (Darlan Cunha), and best friend Acerola (Douglas Silva), have been living on Dead End Hill, a favela of Rio de Jeinero their entire life. Growing up is not easy. Neither have had fathers to guide or raise them. Acerola has become a father himself. He and his wife Cristiane work diligently to pay bills and provide care for their child Clayton (Vinicius/Vitor Oliveira). Wallace is consistently plagued by the absence of his father. Rumors on the identity of him are heard too often, so he sets out to locate him once and for all. The boys are rapidly approaching their 18th birthdays as well. Meanwhile, dissension fills the gang that rules Dead End Hill. When Nefasto (Eduardo Piranha) leaves, and plans an ambush on Midnight (Jonathan Haagensen), his former leader, shootouts and crime overwhelm the slums. Acerola and Wallace become involved in the mess that ultimately threatens their friendship.
Silva and Cunha have assumed these roles for nearly 8 years now, and at this point it is second nature to them. Both step back into the complicated and dangerous lives of the characters without any trouble. They are equally as impressive, but Silva probably has the edge. He received an International Emmy nomination for his contribution on the series. He is a Dad at 17, and does not go to school anymore because he must work daily in order to makes ends meat for his family. His wife, Cristiane is employed as a babysitter/servant as well, but the amounts are small, and neither is certain from month to month how tough it will be to make rent. Acerola is now a night security guard, and is left watching Clayton on little sleep while Cris is at her job.
Laranjinha is the flirt, a young man who is always starting relationships with the wrong girls. His story is the saddest as he is without a mother, and is unsure who is father really is. Cunha instills expressions of desperation and distress with his carefree attitude. He is the cousin of Midnight, the boss of the gang which rules the hill. What I adored most about City of Men is how Laranjinha’s and Acerola’s unbreakable friendship is finally tested as the hunt for their fathers grows more interesting. I feel like I know them, and as I watched these new circumstances escalate, I immediately sympathized their actions. In an area such as Rio, what transpires is believable. The father story thread will tug on anyone’s heart strings, but those familiar with the show beforehand will connect with it that much more.
Comparing this to City of God as a direct sequel will no doubt leave you slightly disappointed. The place is the same, but the characters and events are not. Gang violence is an everyday happening for these people. Life must go one regardless of the hazards around every corner. City of God was one of the first looks at this shocking region of Brazil, so of course it was groundbreaking and distinctive. That does not mean all the creativity and fascination with Rio was used up on one try. Silva and Cunha expose that superbly through the eyes of Paulo Morelli. He steers Editor Daniel Rezende and Cinematographer Adriana Goldman to craft such a charming, exhilarating, and hypnotizing movie soaked with sweat, weapons, romance, and humor.
The flashbacks which are integrated into the normal conversations aid in educating new audiences. For fans, they are reminders of many memorable moments in the lives of these two. The camera work is fast and furious as it weaves in and out of the narrow walkways and steep stairwells of the various favelas. City of Men contains several scenes that are worth noting. One is when Acerola reveals that Cristiane is the only female he has had sex with. This statement is made more intriguing when we see who visits Ace at his guard shack late at night. He is only human, and that is what’s important about these films. City of God was about drugs and crime. This is about humanity.
City of Men is not free of flaws. I had some minor qualms dealing with the fate and screen time of certain supporting characters, but those do not distract from the forceful and sensitive atmosphere that satiates Rio de Janeiro. By observing the poverty, brutality, and even love of this culture, it expands our knowledge of this planet. One forms an appreciation for how some live, and it causes us to sit and think about how we act and treat one another. This is fabulous and thrilling film that demonstrates the fervent bonds of friendship as honestly as any motion picture past or present.
The Video
The visuals for City of Men are one of the significant aspects. The shots from on top of Dead End Hill as Midnight and his gang look out under the hot sun are arresting and first-rate. Other gritty shots occur at night such as when Acerola and Wallace are talking, while gunfire crosses over their heads. Cinematographer Adriana Goldman captured some truly astonishing and picturesque sights with the camera that separates the show from the movie. It was necessary, and thankfully triumphant. This is not a clear or clean transfer, but it is not intended to be either. What you see represents the mood of Rio de Janeiro, and that is why the video quality is exceptional. This is anamorphic widescreen, with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1.
The Audio
The sounds that permeate the favela are also important. Director Paulo Morelli did an excellent job of attaining authentic background noises from the entire are. It is a busy, congested, and unstable place. To heart shouting, gunshots, and car screeches is normal. The acoustic guitar score from composer Antonio Pinto establishes its own theme and traits admirably. All the actors spoke with loud and intelligible tones through the feature presentation. The subtitles were in yellow, which is nice so you can read all of them with no problems. This has a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track, in addition to subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.
The Packaging
City of Men is distributed in a standard black keep case with a single sheet on the inside. One side is a chapter listing, and the other is an advertisement for the DVD release of Smart People. The cover artwork was understandably designed to be similar to City of God. The menus are comprised of scenes from the film and music. They are easy to navigate.
The Extras
Building a City of Men (15:13) – This is your basic “making-of” featurette that supplies interviews with the cast and crew, along with scenes from the film. Fernando Meirelles, Paulor Morelli, Douglas Silva, and Darlan Cunha all provide thoughts on this area of the world and the movie itself. They talk about the history of this project from the beginning of City of God, and go on to touch on the screenplay, music, editing, characters, and life on the set. This is the only extra, and that is unfortunate, but at least this was a engrossing.
Sneak Peeks - When you pop the DVD in, a tobacco truth commercial airs. After that are a series of previews for upcoming theatrical and DVD releases such as: Blindness, Step Up 2 Da Streets, Smart People, the Nightmare Before Christmas, Lost: Fourth Season, and a Miramax Films montage.
The Film: 9.0/10.0
The Video: 8.5/10.0
The Audio: 8.5/10.0
The Packaging: 8.0/10.0
The Extras: 5.0/10.0
The 411: Actors Douglas Silva and Darlan Cunha, combined with the dedicated crew and Director Paulo Morelli have embraced this violent world of Rio de Janeiro once more with passion, comedy, and commitment. The vision and story has come full circle, and it was a glorious experience from City of God until now. The story is well structured and absorbing, the performances are terrific, and the visuals are dynamic. The DVD has technical specifications that are above average, but the bonus material is lacking. The absence of a commentary track is a definite problem, but this is still a worthwhile and satisfying DVD. The film is good enough to overshadow the bare extras. If you enjoy foreign films, or even if you don’t, this should be on your rental list. It is a tremendously entertaining and poignant story.
