Cidade de Deus (City of God) is a housing project built in the 1960''s that--in the early 80''s--became one of the most dangerous places in Rio de Janeiro. The tale tells the stories of many characters whose lives sometimes intersect. However, all is seen through the eyes of a singular narrator: Busca-Pe, a poor black youth too frail and scared to become an outlaw, but also too smart to be content with underpaid, menial jobs.

He grows up in a very violent environment. The odds are all against him. But Busca-Pe soon discovers that he can see reality differently than others. His redemption is that he''s been given an artist''s point of view as a keen-eyed photographer. As Busca-Pe is not the real protagonist of the film--only the narrator--he is not the one who makes the decisions that will determine the sequence of events. Nevertheless, not only his life is attached to what happens in the story, but it is also through Busca-Pe''s perspective of life that one can understand the complicated layers and humanity of a world, apparently condemned to endless violence.

Directed by
Fernando Meirelles
Katia Lund

Cast
Alexandre Rodrigues - Buscape, 'Rocket'
Leandro Firmino De Hora - Phellipe Ze Pequeno, 'Li'l Ze'
Seu Jorge Mane - Galinha, 'Knockout Ned'
Jonathan Haagensen - Cabeleira, 'Shaggy'
Matheus Nachtergaele - Sandro Cenoura, 'Carrot'
Phelipe Haagensen - Bene, 'Beny'
Douglas Silva - Dadinho, 'Li'l Dice'
Roberta Rodriguez - Silvia Berenice
Jefechander Suplino - Alicate, 'Clipper'
Alice Braga - Angelica
Emerson Gomes - Barbantinho

Production Co.
Globo Filmes
O2 Filmes

Produced by
Andrea Barata Ribeiro
Mauricio Andrade Ramos
Walter Salles

Studio
Miramax Films

Writer
Paulo Lins
Braulio Mantovani

Music
Antonio Pinto