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beats about the bond between fathers and sons and the way the people you look up to sometimes let you down. The spine of the story is of course the friendship between Ace and Wallace, which is put to the test both by the surrounding gang war and a secret from the past. This central thread is what makes the story much more Hollywood-friendly than City of God, but it works because the dynamic rings true and the two performers are absolutely terrific.
No, seriously: Silva and Cunha, who like most of the cast grew up in (and still live in!) real favelas, are miraculously naturalistic and completely egoless. You find yourself hoping for the best for both the characters and the real-life performers, and you want to just keep watching them – another reason I’ll be seeking out the City of Men TV seasons on DVD. City of Men doesn’t sucker-punch you in the gut like its predecessor did (I mean that as a compliment), but while it’s not as revelatory as City of God, it’s a strong heir, and it’s a story that needs to be told.
Movie Grade: A-
Synopsis:
Best buddies Acerola and Laranjinha, about to turn 18, discover things about their missing fathers' pasts which will shatter their solid friendship, in the middle of a war between rival drug gangs from Rio's favelas. City of Men is a big-screen continuation of the Brazilian show of the same name, which itself was a continuation of Fernando Meirelles's award-winning City of God, one of the best movies you'll ever see. |
