47-486: Fernando Ferreira Meirelles ( Brazilian Portuguese: [feʁˈnɐ̃du mejˈɾɛlis] ; born 9 November 1955) is a Brazilian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for co-directing the film City of God , released in 2002 in Brazil and in 2003 in the U.S. by Miramax Films , which received international critical acclaim. For his work in the film, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director . He
94-533: A favela called the City of God . The chicken stops between the gang and a young man nicknamed Rocket. In the 1960s, three impoverished, amateur thieves known as the "Tender Trio" – Shaggy, Clipper, and Rocket's older brother, Goose – rob business owners and share the money with the community who, in turn, hide them from the police. Li'l Dice, a young boy, convinces them to hold up a motel and rob its occupants. The gang resolves not to kill anyone and tells Li'l Dice to be
141-585: A Cegueira . The film, which was released in 2008, was the opening film of the Cannes Film Festival . He was one of the creative directors of the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro , working on a shoestring budget equivalent to less than £5 million. In 2019, Meirelles directed and produced the HBO original series Joint Venture , in which marijuana has been legalized in Brazil. The series follows
188-605: A better career after the film and became a major musician, performing at the London 2012 Olympic Games closing ceremony . City of God: The Fight Rages On , a miniseries set two decades after the events of the film, premiered in August 2024. Marcelo Tas Marcelo Tristão Athayde de Souza (born November 10, 1959), better known as Marcelo Tas, is a Brazilian director, writer, actor and television presenter. Host of PROVOCA and commentator for Jornal da Cultura of TV Cultura. He works as
235-426: A girl who dismissed his advances at Benny's party. He beats up her boyfriend, a peaceful man named Knockout Ned, and rapes her. After Ned's brother stabs Li'l Zé, his gang retaliates by shooting into his house, killing his brother and uncle in the process. A gang war breaks out between Carrot and Li'l Zé. A vengeful Ned sides with Carrot, initially trying to stay true to his ideals, he quickly loses his morals. Tiago also
282-463: A hit list of the dealers they plan to kill to take over the drug business. City of God was filmed on 16mm film stock. On the bonus DVD, it is revealed that the only professional actor in the film was Matheus Nachtergaele , who played the supporting role of Carrot. Most of the remaining cast were from real-life favelas, and in some cases, even the real-life City of God favela itself. According to Meirelles, amateur actors were used for two reasons:
329-475: A hundred children and young people were hand-picked and placed into an "actors' workshop" for several months. In contrast to more traditional methods (e.g. studying theatre and rehearsing), it focused on simulating authentic street war scenes, such as a hold-up, scuffle, and shoot-out. Much came from improvisation , as it was thought better to create an authentic, gritty atmosphere. This way, the inexperienced cast soon learned to move and act naturally. After filming,
376-547: A known drug distribution center, and forces Carrot's underboss Blacky, to work for him instead. Because of this monopoly, a relative peace comes over the City of God under the reign of Li'l Zé, who manages to avoid police attention by executing petty criminals, including a member of The Runts. Benny decides to branch out of the drug dealer crowd and befriends Tiago, Angélica's ex-boyfriend, who introduces him to his friend group. Benny and Angélica begin dating. Together, they decide to leave
423-457: A look at how their lives have changed after the original film's release. In a BBC article written at the time of the documentary's release, Firmino mentions that the cast had mixed careers after the film's release. Firmino says that Jefechander Suplino, who played Clipper, could not be found by the documentary producers. His mother, however, believes him to still be alive, but is unaware of his whereabouts. Seu Jorge , who played Knockout Ned, had
470-461: A lookout. Instead, Li'l Dice guns down the motel occupants after falsely warning the trio that the police are coming. The massacre attracts so much police attention that the trio is forced to split up: Clipper joins the Church, Shaggy is shot by the police while trying to escape the favela , and Goose is shot by Li'l Dice after taking his money while Li'l Dice's friend Benny, Shaggy's brother, watches. In
517-461: A shocking and disturbing—but always compelling—look at life in the slums of Rio de Janeiro." On Metacritic , the film holds a score of 79 out of 100 based on 33 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Colin Kennedy from Empire awarded the film a full 5 out of 5 stars, comparing it favorably to Goodfellas and writing in his review, "At once a laboratory for cinema technique and
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#1732852027318564-667: A speaker and develops series on communication and innovation for companies, in 2020 he made 103 participations in events. He is also a professor at the Domestika platform and works in corporate training. He was the main host of Torcedores.com for the coverage of the 2018 Soccer World Cup in Russia. Before: children's series "Ra-Tim-Bum" (TV Cultura - Brazil); “Ernesto Varela, the Reporter” (MTV Brasil, Gazeta, SBT, TV Record-Brasil); Telecurso (TV Globo / Roberto Marinho Foundation); and anchor for 7 years of
611-399: A victory for raw heart, this is a snot-nosed, blood-stained masterpiece. If you see even one or two better movies this year, you will be very lucky indeed." In 2008, the magazine chose City of God as the 177th best film of all time. Film critic Roger Ebert awarded the film 4 stars out of 4, writing in his review, " City of God churns with furious energy as it plunges into the story of
658-421: Is a gastroenterologist who travelled regularly to Asia and North America (among other regions of the world), which gave Fernando the opportunity for contact with different cultures and places. His mother, Sônia Junqueira Ferreira, worked in landscape architecture and interior design . Fernando is the second youngest of four children. He saw his older brother, José Marcos, die in a car-bike accident when he
705-449: Is a 2002 Brazilian epic crime film directed by Fernando Meirelles . Bráulio Mantovani 's script is adapted from the 1997 novel written by Paulo Lins , but the plot is also loosely based on real events. It depicts the growth of organized crime in the Cidade de Deus suburb of Rio de Janeiro , between the end of the 1960s and the beginning of the 1980s, with the film's closure depicting
752-497: Is drawn into the conflict to support his drug addiction, siding with Li'l Ze. The war is still ongoing a year later, in 1981, the origin forgotten. Both sides enlist more "soldiers" and Li'l Zé gives the Runts weapons. One day, Li'l Zé has Rocket take photos of him and his gang. A reporter publishes the photos, a significant scoop since no outsiders can safely enter the City of God anymore. Rocket believes Li'l Zé will kill him for publishing
799-405: Is still one of the partners of O2 Filmes, the biggest Brazilian advertisement firm, which has produced City of God , Domésticas and Viva Voz . Along with four friends (Paul Morelli, Marcelo Machado, Dário Vizeu and Bob Salatini), Meirelles began his career with experimental films. Eventually, they formed an independent production company Olhar Eletrônico . Subsequently, new friends joined
846-486: Is surprised that Zé asks him to take pictures, but as he prepares to take the photo, Carrot's gang arrives. In the ensuing gunfight, Ned kills Tiago but is then killed by a boy who has infiltrated Carrot's gang to avenge his father, a policeman whom Ned shot during a bank robbery. The police capture Li'l Zé and Carrot and plan to show Carrot off to the media. Since Li'l Zé has been bribing the police, they take all of Li'l Zé's money and let him go, but Rocket secretly photographs
893-419: Is to make ghastly things fun". Ivana Bentes, a Brazilian film critic, criticised the film for its depiction of the favela and her view that it glorified issues of poverty and violence as means of "domestication of the most radical themes of culture and Brazilian cinema ... as products for export." Bentes targets the film specifically in saying that: " City of God promotes tourism in hell". City of God
940-462: The 76th Academy Awards ; Best Cinematography ( César Charlone ), Best Director (Meirelles), Best Film Editing (Daniel Rezende), and Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) (Mantovani). In 2003, it was Brazil's entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film , but it did not end up being nominated as one of the five finalists. It is frequently listed by many critics and audiences as one of
987-711: The Architecture and Urbanism College in the University of São Paulo during the 1980s. His graduation work was done in the form of a film, instead of the traditional designs of the other students: he went to Japan and bought professional video equipment to do the job. He presented it and graduated with the minimum acceptable grade. While studying architecture at the University of queens mary, Meirelles became involved in experimental film-making. After several years in independent television, he became an advertisement film director. He
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#17328520273181034-508: The Golden Globe Award for Best Director . Rachel Weisz went on to win the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress . Meirelles insisted that the soundtrack be based on the music of African countries, and most of the filming was done in Kenya. In 2007, he began shooting Blindness , a film adaptation of Nobel-prize winner José Saramago 's book, Ensaio Sobre
1081-485: The HBO original series Joint Venture . In 2024, he led directing work for the crime series Sugar and the historical miniseries The Sympathizer . "A great tragedy for the family. For a long time, it was a taboo. No one mentioned it. I was four when it happened, but I still remember him." Meirelles about his brother's death. Meirelles was born in São Paulo, Brazil . Meirelles' father, José de Souza Meirelles,
1128-516: The Motion Picture Editors Guild listed City of God as the 17th best-edited film of all time based on a survey of its members. The film appeared on several American critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2003. It is ranked No.38 on the BBC list of best 100 films of the 21st century. Brazilian rapper MV Bill , a resident of Cidade de Deus , said the film had "brought no good to
1175-439: The 1970s, Rocket has joined a group of young hippies . He enjoys photography and likes one girl, Angélica, but his attempt to get close to her is ruined by a gang of petty criminal kids known as "The Runts". Li'l Dice, who now calls himself "Li'l Zé", has established a drug empire with Benny by eliminating all of the competition, except for Carrot, who is a good friend of Benny's. Rocket witnesses Li'l Zé take over 'the apartment',
1222-416: The city and the drug trade. During Benny's farewell party, Zé and Benny get into an argument about Benny leaving; the argument is interrupted by Blacky accidentally killing Benny while trying to shoot Li'l Zé. Benny's death leaves Li'l Zé unchecked. Carrot kills Blacky for endangering his life. Li'l Zé and a group of his soldiers start to make their way to Carrot's hideout to kill him. On the way, Zé follows
1269-414: The crew could not leave the cast to return to their old lives in the favelas. Assistance groups were set up to help those involved in the production to build more promising futures. Meirelles went into the film with the intention of staying true to the "casual nature" of the violence in the novel by Lins . Critic Jean Oppenheimer wrote on the production of the film saying that: "A second guiding principle
1316-510: The executive producers, was in the festival jury. In Brazil, City of God garnered the largest audience for a domestic film in 2003, with over 3.1 million tickets sold, and a gross of R$ 18.6 million ($ 10.3 million). The film grossed over $ 7.5 million in the U.S. and over US$ 30.5 million worldwide. On Rotten Tomatoes , City of God has an approval rating of 91% based on reviews from 165 critics, with an average rating of 8.3/10. The website's consensus reads, " City of God offers
1363-604: The favela, no social, moral, or human benefit." He said, "The world will know that they exploited the image of the children who live here in Cidade de Deus. What is obvious is that they are going to carry a bigger stigma throughout their lives; it has only become greater because of the film." City of God won fifty-five awards and received another twenty-nine nominations. Among those: In an interview with Slant Magazine , Meirelles states he had met with Brazil's former and current president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva who told him about
1410-610: The film. The filming was done with a professional crew. The film was a national and international success. In 2004, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director for City of God . Also, at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival , the movie received four nominations: Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing. With the recognition, he was offered a job in Hollywood . With The Constant Gardener , he again received critical acclaim, receiving several nominations, including for four Academy Awards and
1457-638: The greatest films of the 21st century and one of the best films of all-time . In 2015, the Brazilian Film Critics Association aka Abraccine voted City of God the 8th greatest Brazilian film of all time , in its list of the 100 best Brazilian films. Meirelles and Lund went on to create the City of Men TV series and its 2007 film adaptation , which share some of the actors (notably leads Silva and Darlan Cunha ) and their setting with City of God . An armed gang chases after an escaped chicken in
Fernando Meirelles - Misplaced Pages Continue
1504-520: The group: Renato Barbiere, Agilson Araujo, Toniko and Marcelo Tas . In 1982, the company aired TV programs on current affairs, as well as the children series Castelo Rá-Tim-Bum , with 180 episodes. In addition to obtaining high ratings, they also introduced a refreshing humorous informality in news reporting. By the end of the 1980s, he became increasingly interested on the advertising market. In 1990, Meirelles and friends closed down Olhar Eletrônico , opening an advertising business, O2 Films. One decade
1551-420: The impact the film has had on both policies and public security within the country. The film has also sparked major increase in film productions, with over 45 being done during 2002. Films such as The Motorcycle Diaries and The Intruder are some of the films which have used Brazil for film production. The 2013 documentary City of God – 10 Years Later reunites the cast and crew of City of God and takes
1598-415: The lack of available professional black actors, and the desire for authenticity. Meirelles explained: "Today I can open a casting call and have 500 black actors, but just ten years ago this possibility did not exist. In Brazil, there were three or four young black actors and at the same time I felt that actors from the middle class could not make the film. I needed authenticity." Beginning around 2000, about
1645-436: The photo of him and his gang. The reporter takes Rocket in for the night, and he loses his virginity to her. Unbeknownst to him, Li'l Zé, jealous of Ned's media fame, is pleased with the photos and with his own increased notoriety. Rocket returns to the city for more photographs. Rocket finds himself caught between Zé's gang and the arriving police, who quickly withdraw when they realize they are outnumbered and outgunned. Rocket
1692-451: The safety of the set. Lund and Meirelles filmed the short film Golden Gate as a test run while casting for City of God was in the initial stages. The score to the film composed by Antonio Pinto and Ed Córtes. It was followed by two remix albums. Songs from the film: The film was screened out of competition at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival . The film could not be part of the official selection because Walter Salles , one of
1739-454: The scene. The Runts kill Zé to avenge the Runt killed at the behest of Zé; and they intend to take over his criminal enterprise for themselves. Rocket contemplates whether to publish the cops' photo, expose corruption, and become famous, or the picture of Li'l Zé's dead body, which will get him an internship at the newspaper. He decides on the latter, and the Runts walks around the City of God, making
1786-459: The slum gangs of Rio de Janeiro. Breathtaking and terrifying, urgently involved with its characters, it announces a new director of great gifts and passions: Fernando Meirelles. Remember the name." Filmmaker Robert Altman stated, "I don't know how Fernando Meirelles made City Of God . It's so courageous, so truthful. I think it's the best picture I've ever seen". Meirelles himself cited Altman's work as an influence on his own career. The film
1833-512: The story of a young drug trafficker from São Paulo who, after the legalization of marijuana in Brazil, decides to abandon his life on crime and sell his weed legally along with an inexperienced investor partner. In the same year, he directed the drama film The Two Popes for Netflix , starring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce . Meirelles is a Catholic . Documentary shorts Feature film Short film City of God (2002 film) City of God ( Portuguese : Cidade de Deus )
1880-510: The university. He produced mostly western and thriller parodies , using his relatives and friends as actors. At 11, in 1967, Fernando spent a year in the United States in California , where he had contact with the hippie movement , which impressed him. At 13, with a borrowed Super 8 camera , Meirelles started producing small films, inspired by Norman McLaren 's animations. He studied at
1927-508: The war between the drug dealer Li'l Zé and vigilante-turned-criminal Knockout Ned. The tagline is "If you run, the beast catches you; if you stay, the beast eats you." The cast includes Alexandre Rodrigues , Leandro Firmino , Jonathan and Phellipe Haagensen , Douglas Silva , Daniel Zettel, and Seu Jorge . Most of the actors were, in fact, residents of favelas such as Vidigal and the Cidade de Deus itself. City of God received widespread critical acclaim and garnered four nominations at
Fernando Meirelles - Misplaced Pages Continue
1974-482: Was 4 years old. His two sisters, Márcia and Silvinha, graduated in theater and psychology, respectively. Fernando grew up in Alto dos Pinheiros, West Zone of São Paulo , and spent every vacation on the farms of relatives from both sides of his family. "Even I have a farm. I don't know why I bought it", he was quoted as saying. His first experience with cinema was with his father, who often directed 8 mm films during his job at
2021-413: Was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Director in 2005 for The Constant Gardener , which garnered the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Rachel Weisz . He also directed the 2008 adaptation of José Saramago 's novel Blindness , and the 2011 film 360 . In 2019, Meirelles directed The Two Popes for Netflix . In television, Meirelles directed and produced in Brazil
2068-400: Was enough for him to become one of the most important and sought-after advertising producers. In 1997, Meirelles read the book Paulo Lins 's City of God . He decided to adapt it to film, which was done in 2002, and decided that the actors in it would be selected among the inhabitants of slums. In a final triage, from 400 children, they selected 200, with whom they worked for the shooting of
2115-403: Was not without criticism. Peter Rainer of New York magazine stated that while the film was "powerful", it was also "rather numbing". John Powers of LA Weekly wrote that "[the film] whirs with energy for nearly its full 130-minute running time, it is oddly lacking in emotional heft for a work that aspires to be so epic – it is essentially a tarted up exploitation picture whose business
2162-548: Was ranked No.3 in Film4 's " 50 Films to See Before You Die ", and No.7 in Empire magazine's "The 100 Best Films of World Cinema" in 2010. It was also ranked No.6 on The Guardian ' s list of "the 25 Best Action Movies Ever". It was ranked No.1 in Paste magazine's 50 best movies of the decade of the 2000s. Time listed it as one of the 100 greatest films of all time . In 2012,
2209-525: Was to avoid glamorising the violence" and that "many of the killings are either shown indistinctly or kept out of frame." Because the real Cidade de Deus favela was in the middle of a conflict, a large majority of the film was shot in Cidade Alta, a different favela within Rio. During the production, slumlords did not allow for the production company to have their own security, so local security guards were hired for
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