City of God – About the Director
City of god is a brilliant pice of work created by film Director Fernando Meirelles.
Fernando Meirelles – Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil on 9th November 1955.
Fernando started studying architecture at the age of around 19 at the university of Sau Paulo. During his time at the university of architecture, He grew an interest in media film making. Due to his interests, himself and friends started creating a variety of experimental short films which then resulted in Fernando and his friends being awarded severall times in multiple film festivals that they participated in. After realising their success, Fernando and his friends then moved on with making a small production company called : Olhar Elestronico.
When making City of god in the interview below, he talks about how he struggled to get funding for the film as whoever he asked would think its a lost cause and he wont be able to complete it. He then made the silliest mistake of his life, he funded his own film. The reasons for this was that he was so involved and in love with the book that he didnt want to just ditch the whole production, he also could aford it as he previously made adverts
About City of God
Directed by: Fernando Meirelles
Made/Released on : 3 January 2003
City of god was made for the reason of the book that was made based on a true story which follows the life of two young boys living in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, following their every move and how important their life choices and goals will affect and lead them to very opposite lives in the future. But the story is told by a young boy who’s the son to a poor fisherman who aspires to one day, become a photographer.
Alice Braga, actor
I was just 18 when I got the phone call from director Fernando Meirelles. I was still in high school and had only appeared in a few commercials. He told me he was looking for someone who wasn’t famous, since he didn’t want the slum kids who would be acting in his film, a crime drama set in one of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas, to feel intimidated.
I didn’t really audition: I just went to Rio and met the actors who had been chosen by the casting director, Fátima Toledo. About 2,000 young people had turned up after the studio placed an advert in a local paper. Of those, about 200 were selected for an “actors’ workshop” lasting several months. Then they selected the leads.
The following interview was taken from THIS link.
Cast
Leandro Firmino is a Brazilian actor. He is best known for his role as Li’l Zé in the film Cidade de Deus.
Alice Braga as well her beauty, her talent shines more as she is well known for acting in the City of God as Angelica.
Alexandre Rodrigues is a Brazilian actor. He is most famous for playing the part of Buscapé, (aka Rocket) the narrator and protagonist in the 2003 film Cidade de Deus
Douglas Silva is a Brazilian Emmy-nominated actor who played Dadinho in the 2003 Brazilian film, City of God.
Phellipe Haagensen is a Brazilian actor best known for his role of Benny in the 2002 film, City of God.
Matheus Nachtergaele is a Brazilian actor and director. He has starred in numerous Brazilian films, being well known for his appearances in the 1997 film Four Days in September and the 2002 film City of God playing as Carrot.
Nathanael Dalton 