1. Directed by Fernando Meirelles (2002)

2. First impressions of the Film and its characters
Make notes on the following: did you like it and why, did you hate it – why?
Who are these characters and what did you think of them? What role do you think they play
in the film? What could they represent? How do they inform us about the culture and life of
the slums?

5. Film Narrative

6. Apply Todorov’s theory of equilibrium to the Film
Equilibrium –
Disruption to the Equilibrium –
Attempt to repair the equilibrium –
New Equilibrium –
Would it be possible to apply Propp’s theory of character types to this film?
Hero

7. Villain
Helper
Donor

8. False Hero
Princess
Questions on the context of City of God
1. What percentage of people in Brazil lives in absolute poverty?

9. 2. Name some of the factors that lead to a misrepresentation of Brazil?
3. Why did Brazilian filmmakers limit themselves to making documentaries?
4. What 2 factors brought about the first Brazilian new wave?
5. How were Latin American auteurs seen?
6. In the second wave of cinema novo, what did filmmakers reject in favor
of?

10. 7. Where did the writer of the book on which the film was based grow up?
8.What issue did the directors want to bring to peoples attention?
What do we learn from the documentary, News From a Private War?

11. Narrative in City of God
The Three Stories
Below are the 3 stages that are presented to us in City of God. Try to
summarise what happens within these stages:
The Story of the Tender Trio

12. The Story of Little Ze and drugs
The Story of Knockout Ned
City of God and Genre
It was stated on the front of the DVD box that this film was the Brazilian
goodfellas, but why is this?
Below is a table that you should fill in to illustrate comparisons between City
of God and other films that you feel are similar to it. Two categories have
been chosen for you in order for you to look at specific films.
Film for Comparison Comparison Point

13. Gangster Film

14. Character Representations
Character What they represent Why is this?
Rocket
Little Ze
Bene
Nockout Ned
Messages and Values
When the leftism government was overthrown in 1964. Glauber Rocha wrote
of his determination to fight back using a camera, ‘the only weapon I could
muster’. The verb to shoot is used to describe what is done with a gun and
what is done with a camera.
What does the camera vs. the gun metaphor suggest to the audience

15. Close Study Analysis
Try to make notes on the following scenes
Opening Credits (50 seconds)
Playing Football (4:08)

16. Stealing Gas (5:46)
Considering a robbery (9:35)
What happens during the robbery of the hotel?

17. How are the different intentions of the Tender Trio and Lil Dice apparent?
Following is a clip after the motel robbery: what happens in it and what
happens to the other characters in the film?
The Apartment (36:08)

18. Getting Promoted (43:56)
Being in Charge (56:20)
How has the City of God changed when compared to the start of the film
when the characters were younger?

19. Making Choices (1:01:06)
Knockout Ned’s Story (1:25:31)
Resolve to the conflict (1:54:03)

20. Power
From what you have learned during the course of studying this film, try to write as much
as possible about the following points:
•What is Power in this film?
•Who has the Power?
•What happens when you have no Power?

21. •Can you gain Power if you have none?