The document discusses poverty and living conditions portrayed in the film City of God. It provides several statements about how the film depicts poverty in the favelas of Brazil. To support the statements, it cites specific examples, scenes, and details from the film that show the overcrowded and dirty conditions, including ragged clothes, kids without shoes, and layers of dirt on houses. One scene shows burnt out cars and trash around a boy on a bike. The document contrasts this with cleaner conditions and more open spaces shown in the 1960s favela. It suggests poverty leads the characters to act in certain ways and makes it difficult to escape, potentially contributing to involvement in violence and the drug trade.

1. Poverty in City of God
Below you will find a list of statements about the theme of Poverty in City of God. You
will need to find evidence to back up these statements. You will need to think about
narrative events, characters, specific scenes and micro elements in order to do this. I
have doneone for you as an example:
The City of God film does a very good job of displaying a realistic picture of
poverty in the favelas.
The favelas in Brazil are crowded and violent; in the film you really see how the
people in these neighborhoods live.The clothes that people wear are ragged and
old; some kids are seenrunning around without shoes on through the streets,
pushing aside people and animals. The houses seem to have layers of dirt on them
and dust from the constant commotionthat pervades the air. The film authentically
portrays the squalor people actually live in. In one scene you see a boy riding his
bike and in the background there are burnt cars (presumably from the drug war)
and trash piled around him. However the City of God favela shown in the 1960’s is
cleaner and not so crowded.The inhabitants are still considered poor,but there
living conditions seemed muchbetter. There are open spaces where the children
can play, each house has space around it, while there is still dust in the air, a
orange tint is present which gives a more rosy, nostalgic, free feelto the scenes.
Crime is still presentas evident by the TenderTrio’s hold up the gas delivery and is
because of poverty. However this crime is designed to alleviate the poverty of all,
not just a few. Once Goose has taken the money from the driver he yells to the
other residentto come and take gas. The message here seemsto be that working
together the community can rise above poverty and in fact it is something that
provides unity.
Poverty is a constantreminderof why the charactersact and behave the way
they do.

2. ‘I love the way the movie depicts the slum because it compels viewers not
just to confront the desperation, poverty and violence of life there, but to
enter that nightmarishworld so utterly for the duration of the film that leaving
it at the end is a relief, and yet a wrench, making it impossible to forget.’
Many look beyondthe favela to find a better life, out of poverty. However this
is often impossible. Poverty is a cycle that they cannot escape from.

3. A reasonwhy people join in with the violence and the drug trade is because
of the poverty.
City Of God' shows how a city can be separated by wealth and status.
It is not just guns and little else in the way of resources that have contribute
to poverty, but is also the fact that there is little social behaviour.