Paulo Morelli's sequel to Fernando Meirelles' 2002 much-praised City of God features characters and storylines from the related 2002-05 TV series City of Men, again focusing on young men in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. But while City of God used a flashy style to tell a decades-long story in interlocking vignettes, City of Men is much more conventional. The main characters are two best friends—Acerola (Douglas Silva) and Laranjinha (Darlan Cunha)—both trying to survive in the urban war zones. Acerola, whose father was gunned down years before, is struggling to support his own wife and child. Laranjinha, who doesn't know the whereabouts of his father, is involved in a rocky romantic relationship with a girl from a rival area. The plot kicks in when Acerola helps Laranjinha find his father—an ex-con just released from prison after a 15-year stint—and both teens become caught up in an internecine gang war. What follows is a curious combination of West Side Story and One Tree Hill that lays on the soap-operatic elements with a fairly heavy hand. While the desperation of young people trapped in the brutal Brazilian slums is unquestionably a powerful subject, the well-intentioned City of Men is ultimately far less compelling than its predecessor. Optional. [Note: DVD extras include s 15-minute “Building a City of Men” behind-the-scenes featurette, and trailers. Bottom line: a small extras package for a so-so sequel.] (F. Swietek)
City of Men
Miramax, 110 min., in Portuguese w/English subtitles, R, DVD: $29.99, July 1 Volume 23, Issue 4
City of Men
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