Hell on Earth
Got another chance to spend a little QT with the GF, and watched the Brazilian historical drama City of God last night. It was fantastic. The film follows the development of Rio De Janeiro's most notorious favelas, or slums, from the point of view of a young man named Rocket growing up in the 60's and 70's there. Watching these young kids evolve into violent adults, the favela devolve from public works project to ghetto hell, and a casual drug trade erupts into gang war with the introduction of cocaine are all inspiring and enlightening. Directors Katia Lund and Fernando Meirelles have a Tarentino-esque directing style - kinetic, humourous, intense, and inspired - and Braulio Mantovani's script succeeds wonderfully in creating both empathy and animosity towards this bunch of callous hoodlums, sleazy snitches, casual highwaymen, and wayward youth. It is both entertaining and exhausting from beginning to end.
What I found even more interesting was the documentary included on the DVD, "Notes from a Personal War." This documentary traces the horrendous path of favela violence from the late 70's to today, where it is an all-out war between police and dealers right in Rio's back yard. The documentary checks all sides in the conflict - cops, dealers, and dwellers are interviewed - and thought it seems to take the side of the favela residents more often, it swings dramatically at other times to judge everyone as responsible for the continuing conflict. The impression I took away is that this is almost the same thing going on in Gaza and the West Bank...only no one is watching.
My New Project
After a recent incident, I've found a new calling. Check it out.
Got another chance to spend a little QT with the GF, and watched the Brazilian historical drama City of God last night. It was fantastic. The film follows the development of Rio De Janeiro's most notorious favelas, or slums, from the point of view of a young man named Rocket growing up in the 60's and 70's there. Watching these young kids evolve into violent adults, the favela devolve from public works project to ghetto hell, and a casual drug trade erupts into gang war with the introduction of cocaine are all inspiring and enlightening. Directors Katia Lund and Fernando Meirelles have a Tarentino-esque directing style - kinetic, humourous, intense, and inspired - and Braulio Mantovani's script succeeds wonderfully in creating both empathy and animosity towards this bunch of callous hoodlums, sleazy snitches, casual highwaymen, and wayward youth. It is both entertaining and exhausting from beginning to end.
What I found even more interesting was the documentary included on the DVD, "Notes from a Personal War." This documentary traces the horrendous path of favela violence from the late 70's to today, where it is an all-out war between police and dealers right in Rio's back yard. The documentary checks all sides in the conflict - cops, dealers, and dwellers are interviewed - and thought it seems to take the side of the favela residents more often, it swings dramatically at other times to judge everyone as responsible for the continuing conflict. The impression I took away is that this is almost the same thing going on in Gaza and the West Bank...only no one is watching.
My New Project
After a recent incident, I've found a new calling. Check it out.
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