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City of Men
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2003-'05, Not Rated
Co-directors Fernando Feirelles and Katia Lund earned Academy Award nominations for City of God and have returned to Rio de Janeiro in this captivating Brazilian television series that focuses on Acerola (Douglas Silva) and Laranjinha (Darlan Cunha), two teenage boys struggling to find moments of peace and innocent fun in the dangerous streets where boys with guns and drugs represent the only working authority. There are obvious parallels between this show and Baltimore journalist David Simon's work on the HBO series The Wire. City of Men has a more scripted feel, but its veracity shines in the faces of its protagonists, largely untrained performers living day to day much like their characters. There is more humor (both visually and narratively) and a spirit of playfulness that comes from the perspectives of the two boys, but that makes the lessons no less real. Each of the 19 episodes included in the three-disc set leaves audiences wondering if the boys will eventually have the opportunity to become men in this lost city. (tt stern-enzi) Grade: A
