Criticism of the Movie City of God - Essay Example

Criticism of the movie of God’ The picture painted or depicted by the film, of God, is that crime is aggravated with poverty. Poverty made the people in the City of God to engage in criminal activities at a very tender age. The irony in the film comes from its name the “City of God”. The City of God is expected to be a city full of righteousness and happiness. However, the town depicted in the film is a crime prone city that is characterized by crime and violence. Apparently, every scene in the film is characterized by violence. This is because the city is infested by rivalry gang groups who are ever at war with each other thereby causing insecurity and making the town a war zone region. Additionally, this society never valued the right of others. For instance, despite being bathed in golden lights and amber moods, children were being kicked around like football. Furthermore, the City of God is often expected to flourish in light throughout or all the time. However, it was full of darkness at some points. The darkness in this film is characterized not only y the frequent blackouts it experiences, but also by the action of its people. Nonetheless, the film is produced in a captivating style that is appealing to the audience. The storyline is perfect and well formulated. The film portrays the social issues that happened in a society. The society in question is Brazilian society that needed quick interventions. Furthermore, despite the film’s setting being based in a Brazilian society, its message of rotten vices in was far reaching with some of the crimes being global concerns. The problems and damages caused by gang groups have continued to affect many parts of the global society including cities in the United States. It is also worth noting that the film depicted immense creativity particularly in reflecting real life violence in a society. Additionally, the creativity is in the use of slang language that makes the film truly local and appealing to its targeted audience. In addition, the music that changes depending on the scenes significantly adds value to the success of this film. The director and producer of the film also ensured that the cinematography and writing were also perfectly related. The written script of the film portrayed the vices in the society and the same I well brought in play by the cinema presented by the film. Notably, the first expression in the film is the lack of peace and order in the society. This theme strikes everywhere and it is what leads to criminal activities such as murder, theft and rape. One of the major aims of this film is to find a means through which these vices can be eradicated in this society. Therefore, the film calls for correcting the society to bring order and respect to humanity. In other words, the society should reflect the will of God. In this context, a society should be a “City of God”. The feelings of an unjust society are clearly evoked by the lack of respect to life and children being involved in activities far above the expectation of a society. For instance, recruiting children in gangs and forcing them to kill is unjust since these young souls are not let to decide about what they want in life. In addition, the film depicts a chaotic and individualistic society where life is controlled not by the guns of the authorities, but by the guns of the toting gangsters. Relating this film to theology reveals that it is apparent that the film depicts un-dictatorial or free will nature of God. He has left this society to decide of what is right and wrong for its people. Just like in the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah where nearly everyone was evil in the eyes of God except one family, the “City of God” also had some righteous people who were not evil and were seen helping others in their miseries. Nonetheless, God judged these people according to the choices they made in life. They were judged individually. This notion is also portrayed in the saying, “those who live by the gun will obviously die by the gun’ and this was the live evident in the film” (Dear 126). Additionally, just as God will judge and separate people in accordance to their actions and faithfulness to him, the film separated the society into two sections, which include the honesty living people and the dangerous and violent gangs. The film also depicted the elements of spirituality where their society is to appease the spirit of the dead. For instance, the Rocket’s life is speared, while on the other side, Ned decides to revenge the death of his brother. This leads Ned to join a criminal gang from which his life is taken. The spiritual teaching of Ned’s actions is that it is prudent to forgive than to revenge. Forgiveness is a characteristic of God. The film, City of God, compares largely to Johnsons’ writing, Liberating God of Life, in a number of ways. For instance, in liberating God of life, the Catholic Church in Latin America was seen to wallow in wretched poverty. The poverty that faces this Church followed the decision that was made in the 16th Century by the European conquerors. This decision has descended and spread widely to the later generation thereby leading to poverty and oppression. For nearly five centuries, the leadership of the Catholic Church was complicit of the decision. However, in late 20th Century, the Latin American theologians started developing Liberation theology to save the church (Dear 155). The European conquerors and the “City of God” gangs have same selfish agenda of individualistic gain at all means. This made them oppress the society leading it to utter poverty. Therefore, in this state of event, God usually sees the plan of bringing his people out of such bondage. God never want to see his people suffer; however, in cases where these people forget of his presence, He often reminds them through suffering and acknowledgment. He does this to both the church and individuals; hence, the poverty in church and the society (City of God). Additionally, the film, City of God, had no prescribed doctrine of supremacy as the traditional Christian doctrine of supreme where God is the supreme power. From the film, the head of gangs were superior to ordinary people, and they demanded to be obeyed without which the disobedient persons would pay their disobedience with their life. However, heavenly supremacy is far much different from the City of God’s supremacy. For instance, God in His powerful nature still allows poverty and suffering to His people. Additionally, He still gives hope for peace and justice in the eternal life (Dear 180). On the contrary, the head of gangs only made people to be hopeless. It is also worth noting that the settings of Johnsons’ writing and the film were based in Brazil. There is a similarity between the spread of gang ideas and the spread of gospel in this literally works. For example, the gangs started from Brazil and spread to New York, and the word of God spread from the poor Brazil to Latin America. The film depicts a society that does not hold to its values. This can be linked directly with how the Church has neglected its true calling. Nonetheless, despite the oppression, poverty, crime, and rape, some of the society members still held the value that were expected from them. For instance, the care and love for one another is not upheld in this society. Therefore, the commitment to humanity and unity should be adopted by believers despite the challenges the society is subjecting them. Religion just like the society should hold to its true meaning and help other come out of their challenging and devastating situations. Despite these teaching from the film, the society should never create classes that are oppressive within itself. This can lead to evil desires. For instance, the gangs in the society of “City of God” created and developed this classes that were seen to convert children to virtuous life. Therefore, the society should love one another since with love people will treat each other equally. Worked Cited Top of Form Dear, John. The God of Peace: Toward a Theology of Nonviolence. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2005. Print. Bottom of Form Read More