Brazilian Cinema and The City Of God

 What is the main ideology communicated in the film?
It is evident that violence not only propels the plot of the film, but also expressed a large message for the need of social change. The film explains why violence has become such a significant role in favelas, boys are taught at a young age in order to get what is desired or necessary, it must be done with violence and they are therefore rewarded. This is forced into their morality at such a young age that any other way is useless or just known. Other ideology portrayed in the film, as this article describes it "if you live by the gun you die by the gun, but if you avoid violence and retain some honest values and ambitions you escape". Rocket is the essence of this ideology. The film ends with Rocket finally perusing his dreams of becoming a photographer and being able to escape from the favelas. While on the other hand, almost all of the characters that indulge in violence or any type of legal activity dies or is killed from it. 


What film traditions, genres, historical and political influences are communicated in the film.
One of the genres that City Of God falls under would include Brazilian Cinema.However it is important to acknowledge that the film used several evident genre features and altered them to fit into the film, altering them to more vibrant locations. Furthermore traditions of the film would include the connections to mainstream cinema, these factors include production vales, genre and narrative. In addition according to this article since The City Of God gained so much popularity, it was considered a political with a provoking message. The only main historical influences communicated in the film was through the flood explaining the increase of population the favelas, but even this historical event was only shortly mentioned. In addition there are no political influences in the film because during the 1960s and 1970s the pass public were unaware of Brazilian society that made these slums. 
  

What focus area interests you for your personal research?
Areas that interested me in my personal research included the editing of the film and how one of the main editing techniques is montages. The way montages are used in the film sends a powerful message to the audience and is very provoking. Highlighting the section in the film, where the two arrival gangs are handing children guns, the next several shots consisted of many bloody corps shown in the favelas. In addition I also found the analysis of the characters to be very interesting. According to this article Rocket represent hope, throughout the movie the audience sympathizes with him because he can't play foot ball, get a girl or get revenge on his brother's murder. Despite this he grows up absent from violence and is able to escape it.