City of God (2003)

 

Release date: January 17, 2003

Director: Katia Lund, Fernando Meirelles 

Writer(s): Paulo Lins (novel), Bráulio Mantovani (screenplay)

Starring: Alexandre Rodrigues, Matheus Nachtergaele, Leandro Firmino

Estimated Budget: N/A

U.S. Box office: $7.5 million

Foreign: $23 million

Worldwide: $30.6 million

 

Fernando Meirelles' City of God is a sweeping tale of how crime affects the poor population of Rio de Janeiro. Though the narrative skips around in time, the main focus is on Cabeleira who formed a gang called the Tender Trio. He and his best friend, Bené (Phelipe Haagensen), become crime lords over the course of a decade.