• Be confident in close and detailed analysis

To analyse micro and macro features

• focus on 'show' rather than 'telling'
in the presentation of characters • make correct use of film language

CITY
CITY OF
OF GOD
GOD
Rocket is the central character and narrator. The film tell his story.
He is also an observer following other people's stories.
He is in a privileged position to watch domestic, familial, communal, 
social and even national narratives unfold.

How does his position fit in with his chosen profession?

He 'shoots' with a camera. Why is this significant?

Before his 'eyes', and therefore the spectator's, human relationships ­ 
short energetic lives and brutal deaths are played out against an 
unchanging social backdrop of extreme poverty.

And yet, how do the slums change?

1
To analyse micro and macro features • Be confident in close and detailed analysis
• focus on 'show' rather than 'telling'
in the presentation of characters
• make correct use of film language

B ER!
TASK: REMEM
How would you differentiate each of the key characters in 'City of 
God'? 
List characters and refer to specific scenes in order to illustrate your 
understanding of their character.
Compare your list with a partner. Film is a visual
Discuss any differences in scenes chosen and any differences in  medium and may
understanding these characters. 'SHOW' us features of
a character's make up
Would you agree that Rocket is the central character?
through performance
Would you see him as the hero?
Would you see other characters as the main focus of the film? and/or carefully
Which ones? Why? How would you justify your choice? constructed shots
Would you see these characters as heroes or anti heroes? rather tthan
How would you characterise women in this film? 'TELLING' us through
dialogue

2
 • Be confident in close and detailed analysis
To analyse micro and macro features
• focus on 'show' rather than 'telling'
in the presentation of characters • make correct use of film language

E ME M BER!
CONSIDER GENDER IN MORE DEPTH R
• What roles do men and women play in this film?
Are they stereotypes? 
Film is a visual medium
• Would you agree that women are peripheral to the narrative 
and may 'SHOW' us
and unimportant in plot terms?
representations of
Do men or women 'drive' the narrative?
gender through
• Would you consider this to be a 'male' text? If so, what 
performance and/or
features make it so? Can this be linked to the social context?
carefully constructed
shots and mise en scene
rather than 'TELLING' us
through dialogue or plot