 |
|
|
|
From the makers of City of God: City Of Men (Cidade dos Homens) is a nine-part mini series, based on Fernando Meirelles' modern classic, City Of God (Cidade de Deus), which follows inhabitants of the Rio de Janeiro favelas through their lives. Like its parent film, City Of Men is an exciting mixture of gritty social realism and high-octane action. However, the filmmakers use the mini series format to delve deeper into the characters, and the reality of their situation. This approach was much more realistic than the approach taken by the film, as we see our two main characters, Acerola and Laranjinha, balance dodging bullets with job hunting and, in one memorable episode, trips to the beach. This is also useful from a dramatic standpoint because, like with all good TV shows, we are able to build relationships with these characters, and by the end, they become like old friends. We are with them every step of the way, as they discover girls, get in trouble with the law, experience racism and prejudice... through the good times and the bad, we see Laranjinha and Acerola grow. The acting of the young amateur cast was highly praised in City Of God, and several of the actors reappear in City Of Men, albeit as different characters. Darlan Cunha (Laranjinha) and Douglas Silva (Acerola) feature in most scenes, so it is a relief that they are so natural in front of the camera. The series doesn't have a particular narrative to speak of. Instead, each episode can be viewed as a snapshot of a different aspect of life in the favela (or, as it is called by the locals, 'The Hill'). As a result, the final episode is something of an anti-climax, as life continues, without a big exciting conclusion. However, this is the best way to view City Of Men, to understand that life DOESN'T stop just because the director yells 'Cut!', that The Hill really does exist, and this is how its inhabitants really live. Ep 1: The Emperor's Crown Laranjinha and Acerola's efforts to go on a school trip are complicated by a lack of money, poor test results and new neighbourhood drug dealers. In the middle of this confusion, the boys do manage to learn what led Napoleon to attack England and why Portugal's King Dom Joao VI had to escape to Brazil. Ep 2: The Man's Brother-in-Law When Acerola's sister starts dating the neighbourhood's biggest drug dealer, our hero finds his own status rising and people respecting him more. Things turn sour when the new relationship starts to falter... Ep 3: The Post There is no mail delivery in the favela, so Laranjinha and Acerola are designated by the local drug barons to work as mailmen. Their bright ideas lead to big problems... Ep 4: Uolace And Joao Vitor Laranjinha awakes to find himself penniless, with no food at home and his mother away. Joao Vitor is a middle-class kid living in an apartment in front of Laranjinha's favela, and this episode traces the parallels between the two. Ep 5: Saturday Saturday means dance night and Acerola enters a group dance competition to woo Cristiane, whilst Laranjinha just wants to beat his own record. He aims to stay with three different girls all through the night, then take a fourth home. Ep 6: The Two On Their Way To Brasilia Acerola's love for a girl, who fights for incarcerated inmates of the Brazilian penal system, sends the dynamic duo off on a trip to Brasilia, to talk to Presidente Lula. Ep 7: It Has To Be Now At the beach, where all social classes mix freely, some young thugs want to have a social cleansing of 'their space'. The only thing on the minds of the other young people is losing their virginity. Ep 8: The Ordinaries In a freak accident Acerola saves a rich boy from drowning, which forges a strong bond between the two. They realise people from 'the asphalt' and 'the slum' can live in harmony and form a group called The Ordinaries. Ep 9: Hot Spot Laranjinha's cousin Esperto manages drug dealing in his area. After a bad experience, Espeto wants out, but leaving the business can be tough, so Laranjinha and Acerola decide to help him out.
|
