City of God Analysis

City of God uses the theme of power and conflict. The message that the film conveys through the theme is that respect is everything, and the way they can receive respect is only through violence, destruction, corruption and killing. Having a gun in the hand is a symbol of their (the gangs) masculinity, which makes them feel that they’re very “manly” and have the power to overrule anyone. In that corruption the only way to survive and live, is through killing and death.

The theme of City of God supports the context behind this film. This is because during the 1960’s and 70’s, most people in Brazil lived in very severe and poor conditions. The only place they could shelter themselves was in the Favelas. Most poor people in Brazil did not have any work and were unemployed mainly because of their government. This caused most of them to go down the illegal route, by selling and consuming drugs or by selling arms (guns and knifes) illegally. That was the only way to survive, which caused conflict and made them form gangs leading to destruction everywhere. The gangs were killing and shooting each other in public places and the police did not do anything to punish them, as they were either equally involved or corrupt.

The scene that supports this is when Lil Ze brutally murders the people in the Motel, and the police chase after the wrong guys instead of Lil Ze. This then causes Lil Ze to grow up into the leader of all crimes, which causes more destruction. The main question that arises in the film is that, where did the gangs get all these illegal arms from? The answer is simple yet complicated because it was the Military who armed these gangs with the illegal weapons. This was so then they could maintain their power over people. The way of doing that is by killing the same gangs who they had armed with the illegal weapons. That way they maintain their “power”, and become the heroes in the eyes of the normal civilians, who are oblivious to what’s going on in the darker side of these gangs. 

This is similar to La Haine and Pans Labrynth, as they also explore the theme of power and conflict. In La Haine it is the conflict between immigrants and the government, who want to maintain France as an assimilated country but because of the immigrants, they somehow fail to do so. Therefore they try to oppress them, which the immigrants oppose, and then this leads to riots. This is very similar to City of God, as the only way to escape from the riots and trouble in this film, is also through death. They either have to kill or die.

The ending scene of La Haine conveys the message very clearly as to how they’re all trapped in a vicious and violent cycle. No matter what they have no escape and will eventually end up where they started from. The sidekick, Saiid is the observer, watching all this happen as he’s stuck in the middle and cannot do much. If he tries anything then he will possibly get killed after the riots, as he’s powerless without Vinz and Hubert. The French government however have forgotten their own nations motto, which is Equality, Liberty and Fraternity. It is the immigrants who use this motto amongst themselves, and the film challenges this, as well as the Todorov (CHN). Which raises the question, as to who is more French, the government or the immigrants?

In Pans Labrynth, the conflict arises because of the fascist government.  Pans Labrynth is set during the time of the Civil war in Spain. The government and military wanting power and dictating over people caused the conflict. The film sends out the message that war destroys childhood therefore the only way to escape is by hallucinating it like a fantasy, especially as a child.

The three films convey the message that government causes most of the conflict and to beware of the government. However if you interfere with the government, the only conclusion everyone ends up with is death. As all the protagonists get killed (or audience get the sense that they will get killed i.e: Saiid), this means that they have no power and no say when it comes to opposing the government.