Surreelfilm

Acerola, or “Ace”, is a husband and father in the body of a scared eighteen year old boy. He misses his childhood and fears the immense responsibility and expectation being thrust upon him. Neither he nor his best friend Laranjinha ever had a father, but Laranjinha is especially haunted by the absence of the father whose name he doesn’t even know. The fact that neither boy has a father is endemic of the gang warfare culture in which they live. The women are left to stay at home while the men kill each other in the streets. Ace and Laranjinha are unsure and reluctant young men in a slum where ever other kid their age is pointing a gun at someone. When a power struggle erupts between gang boss Midnight, who happens to be Laranjinha’s cousin, and a top lieutenant, the two find themselves in the midst of a deadly game of king of the hill that will leave no family unscathed.

City of Men differs from City of God both stylistically and in narrative structure. City of God was done in a faux-documentary style, shot with handheld cameras and utilizing lots of quick cuts. This had the dual effect of making the action both visceral and eerily detached. The style fit the narrative quite well as it focused much more on the evolution on the gang culture over the course of several generations. In comparison, City of Men is structured in a much more traditional narrative centered around the friendship of Ace Laranjinha, with the cinematography structured likewise. Additionally, the sheer nihilistic brutality of the violence in City of God has been toned down a bit for City of Men, as is the level of drug use, which is virtually nonexistent in City of Men. It’s strictly personal preference, but I have to say that I prefer the style of City of God, simply due to the frightening degree of realism for which it allows. Regardless, both films are alike in that they harbor absolutely zero sympathetic or romantic notions toward death. There are no epic gun battles here. People get shot. People die. That’s it.

Any minor gripes do not subvert the fact that this film is a rich and entertaining experience that is very much worth your time. The characters in this film are dealing with all the same stresses and pains of day-to-day life and growing up, with the added intensity that every time they leave their house they risk the danger of catching a stray bullet. If you enjoyed City of God, you will enjoy this movie. If you haven’t seen either, see City of God first, then this, and chances are you’ll enjoy the hell out of both of them. If you’re hungry for even more, you can also track down the acclaimed TV series which is available stateside on DVD.