City Of Men (2004)

12 out of 12 people found the following review helpful:

Taste the Favela!!!

Gonzosoul from Thoroughfare, Woodbridge, 25th November, 2004

For me this is television at its best!! Vibrant, exciting, scary, funny, depressing and heart warming, this series is many things!!
I love the styles, the different film stocks and techniques!! The photography is very strong indeed!!
And its a very character based piece and I found them very endearing and I was firmly behind them all the way!!
My two favourite episodes was 'Post'from the first series and 'Saturday' on the second!
If you liked 'Cidade de Deus' (City Of God) or 'Carandiru', then I guarantee that you will appreciate this one!! It's a real gem!!!!!
Peace!

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3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Wow! Why can't the Americans or British make TV like this?

A Customer from London, England, 30th December, 2005

I have never been so amazed as by this series and the film it spun off: 'City of God'. The acting and realness of both are unbelievable. You really wish you were friends of the characters. Quite a contrast from the grittiness of the film, but nevertheless hard-hitting and thought-provoking. The thing I love the most about the series is its depiction of youth and innocence. Close to perfection.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Awesome series!

DOMINIC SILVER from Essex, England, 12th December, 2005

If you enjoyed City of Men you will undoubtedly appreciate this terrific series by the same director. It is similarly set in a Brazillian slum and focusses on the lives of two teenage boys. As a window into another world I found it compelling and touching... the stories are varied and all are interesting and enjoyable. It is a delightfully shot and scripted experience and the two leads are both likeable and endearing characters. If you are in any way interested in how the inhabitants of a most difficult place to live and survive scratch a living, then look no further. City of Men is a rich and rewarding experience. Enjoy!

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2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Slick televison follow-up hits the right notes again

lukey27 from from Wolverhampton, 4th November, 2004

City of Men, is the inevitable follow-up to the visceral whirlwind that was Fernando Mereilles 'City of God'. Set in the slums of Rio, 'City of God' was an exercise in dazzling imagery with set-piece after set-piece which brilliantly interwieved between narratives. Undoubtably Mereilles film was the highlight of 2003, and if it provided the high octane thrills, this televisual follow-up is the mellowing come down.

Mereilles is involved again, but here only in the form of a producer. As expected with televison, each episode is self-contained and equilibrium is restored from one show to the next. The show in essence is a rites of passage tale, following the lives of two school friends Acerola and Laranjinha, here we see their search for money, freedom and girls.

When the show portrays the innocence of the central characters against the hard world of gangland Brazil it works well, but the show seems to have a morbid delight in taking swipes at the government and racial division in Brazil. Unfortunately the show has a heavy handed way of making its points and by the end of the second season you feel as if you've been smacked by a sledgehammer.

Still, nevermind the critcisms, the show still sparkles with fine performances and although the episodes are hit and miss, when it is good it is very good.

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Not bad

A Customer from London, 23rd January, 2008

Some good moments but if you've seen the 'City of God' then it all feels a bit too familiar

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Outstanding

A Customer from London, 9th January, 2008

This is simply the best series I have ever watched in my life. Raw, exciting, heartwarming, entertaining, hearbreaking. Every emotion. These are probably 2 of the best actors of their generation and I hope to see more and more of these wonderful and talented young men. Television at its best. FANTASTIC

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0 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Not as good as City of God...

A Customer from Scotland, 13th July, 2007

I'm not sure that I should have been expecting a continuation of the film, but nevertheless I've found myself comparing the two. This series is well-shot and gives an interesting perspective on life in that area (whether or not it is accurate, I have no idea). But perhaps the stories are too formulaic, or not captivating enough, but it just doesn't hold my attention that well.

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Thought provoking and a pleasure to watch

Caspian Causer from Yorkshire, England, 12th November, 2006

I seriously enjoyed this programme, the style of it is distinctly proletarian and the use of somewhat low-quality cameras seriously add to the atmosphere. While it lacks the non-stop rollercoaster effect of City of God, it is still an extremely pleasurable experience, as it gives a bit more insight into the more normal sides of life in the Favela, minus the 'cool hoods' and biggest gang-battles of the 1980s. It's well worth a look for anyone, particularly those of a middle class background who don't understand why those less well off treat them with such disregard. City of God (the book) definitely warrants a look, if you're interested in class-relations, as well as the Brazilian gang-scene of the 60s through to the 80s. The series isn't pretentious when it makes its point, it can get a little artistic, but it is so pragmatically pulled off that one doesn't really notice. All in all, a series definitely worth a look, and something that can provide a little insight, especially regarding hostility from the working class.

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