City of God (Blu-ray Disc)

Based on Paulo Lins’ shattering novel Cidade de Deus, CITY OF GOD traces dozens of intertwined stories of love, humor and struggle that reveal the real people inside Rio de Janeiro’s drug riddled neighborhoods, or favelas. The film counts almost exclusively on the acting abilities of youngsters coming from the favelas around Rio.

The narrator, Rocket, is a poor kid too frail and scared to become an outlaw but also too smart to be content with an underpaid job. He discovers that he can see his surroundings with a different eye: the eye of an artist. Then there is Lil Dice, a kid the same age who already dreams of being Rio de Janeiro’s most dangerous criminal. Before long, he will be.