Context

Question 1

When did Favelas start emerging and why?
(historical)

Answer 1

started in the late 19th century as settlements for returning soldiers

Question 2

What percentage of Rio’s population live in a favela?
(historical)

Answer 2

25%

Question 3

What are favelas?
(historical)

Answer 3

shanty towns; very cramped and plagued with hygiene problems, crime and violence

Question 4

What is the murder rate in favelas?
(historical)

Answer 4

44/100,000 (due to regular shootouts with police gangs and other criminal activities)

Question 5

How do drug gangs offer safety to local residents in favelas?
(historical)

Answer 5

they claim they can create order, leading to the individual forming connections with them and have respect despite the violence

Question 6

What is social realism?
(production)

Answer 6

• part of a tradition depicting the lives of the urban poor
• often have a political purpose in exposing abuse and injustice, talking issues

Question 7

What true story is City of God based on?
(production)

Answer 7

Photographer Wilson Rodriguez

Question 8

What is the overarching theme of the film?
(production)

Answer 8

Corruption
- Examples; Carrot reluctantly kills his friend at the behest of his boss, Knockout Ned seeks vengeance but is corrupted by the cycle of violence
- The Tender Trio are depicted as amateurish with a Robin Hood streak, but as drug wars erupt, more sinister figures emerge

Question 9

Who was Meirelles inspired by in regards to not giving his actors a script?
(production)

Answer 9

Mike Leigh and Ken Loach

Question 10

What was Meirelles’ role in production?
(production)

Answer 10

cinematography and using digital editing techniques

Question 11

Quote from Meirelles about the actors
(production)

Answer 11

“70% of what you see and hear on the screen they created by themselves”

Question 12

What social realist tradition did Meirelles use?
(production)

Answer 12

he recruited actors from the favelas

Question 13

Who is the only professional actor in the film?
(production)

Answer 13

Matheus Nachtergaele (Carrot)

Question 14

What was Katia Lund’s role in creating the film?
(production)

Answer 14

She started the organisation “Nós do cinema” - a workshop project for boys from the favelas. They chose 200 who they trained to be in the film
- Lund helped with character development and supervising the crew

Question 15

What is Cinema Novo?
(production)

Answer 15

a genre and movement noted for its emphasis on social equality and intellectualism that rose to popularity in Brazil in the 60s and 70s

Question 16

Music and Brazil
(production)

Answer 16

• music in the film reflects musical nature of Brazil and its inhabitants
• music is always playing if you go to a favela

Question 17

Why was Meirelles criticised for the amount of music used in the film?
(production)

Answer 17

it was mostly happy and upbeat

Question 18

What did Meirelles say about music and favelas?
(production)

Answer 18

favelas are fun places to be and so he tried to capture the spirit through music