Sequence running time 00:00:00 – 00:05:00
The film premiered in January 2003 and is set in Rio de Janeiro across 3 time periods, Set in
Rio de Janeiro. The film focuses on the contrast between wealthy Brazillians with access to
great beaches and nightlife and glamorous lifestyles and the hardships and often life threatening
circumstances of those living in the favelas. The plot develops over 3 contrasting decades to
show both the way the characters develop, and how the drug war is escalating. The director’s
intention is to show the waste of lives in communities like the City of God.
I chose the first 5 minutes because it establishes the theme and setting of the film and It’s interesting
because the narrative was shown instead of it being a dialogue.
What film elements will you be analyzing?
What social – political context will you include?
Sharpening the knives.
The sequence begins with extreme close ups of
a knife being sharpened against a rock which is
intercut with a black screen immediately giving
the impression of violence and a sense of
uncertainty about what might be happening.
Although the image cuts, the use of sound is
constant and powerful, with the noise of the knife
being sharpened layered with traffic, shouting,
music and the shouting, all adding to the feeling
of chaos and confusion about where we are or
what we’re about to witness. The slaughtering of
the chickens symbolises the threat posed to
innocent people and animals, from the outset
and creates a sense of lawlessness and chaos.