City of god essay

 ‘discuss some of the ways in which editing is used in each of your chosen films to create meaning.’ (20 marker) 

In Merielle’s city of god, Rezende’s use of montage editing in the opening sequence is effective at introducing the audience to the hectic world of the favelas in city of god. The opening scene rushes the audience into the rhythm of the music and the violence in Rio with the use jump cuts and the use of quick cuts of the knife roughly 1 second each straight away gives the impression that the films main theme is going to be violence. The knife sound plays alongside the music suggesting that it is a big part of the culture just as much as music is. The quick shots in the beginning, of the chicken watching its peers die, music playing, people cooking, chopping food is montaged in an established way to display how fast the chicken dies corresponding with the fast paced editing tempo. Whilst everything is happening simultaneously Rezednde creates an overload of information making the audience feel claustrophobic and relating them to how the chicken is feeling in this situation.The chicken takes the audience on a chase through the favelas cutting between a series of low angle and high angle shots, pov of the chicken and Birds Eye view of the chase. This heightens the audiences feeling of anxiety and creates an intense atmosphere as we watch this chicken fight for its life.

A cross cut is used to show the protagonist (rocket) walking with his friend in the same area as this chase is happening but in a normal pace. As soon as we cut to rocket the up beat face pacing music stops and we only hear his conversation and some background noise, rocket is immediately associated with tranquility and quietness showing the contrast between the two sides of the favelas and puts into perspective how frantic lil-z and his group are. The two sides then come together when the chicken makes the characters cross paths. Rezende uses a slow motion to capture both expressions of rocket and lil-z and also shows how rocket is in the middle between the police and lil-z telling the audience that rocket has to choose a side to fit in. The use of the slow motion creates an intense moment between lil-z and rocket foreshadowing later on in the film, the war and violence.

Another use of a montage in this film is to show the story of knockout Ned.knockout Ned is first introduced in the film as a background character and a peaceful guy. Until his girlfriend becomes a love interest to lil-a and something of trophy to win and sees knockout Ned as through a jealous lens and despises him and ends up raping Ned’s girlfriend and killing members of his family. Fast pace editing is used within a montage sequence and jump cuts to emphasise the harshness and violence within the scene. The montage shows Ned becoming more violent and less remorseful, the jump cuts quicken this change showing how easily people can change and turn to violence in the favelas. They also create a lack of continuity by leaving out parts of the action and emphasises the disorientation and disruption within the sequence. Creating a lack of emotional sympathy for the victims through the brief shots of the robberies and the killing of innocent people. The use of shot reverse shot in the montage to show Ned’s and carrots expression to Ned killing the security guard and carrots face being proud of Ned brings attention to how little they care about the death of people and the consequences of their actions but how much they care to show off their violence to others. Faded overlays are also used to show the passing of time disorientating the audience even more and makes them feel less comfortable.

In conclusion, Rezendes really highlights the fast passing of time along with the fast moving pace of the favelas to strongly emphasise upon the audience the chaos of the favelas leaving them in a perceived state of mind by using techniques such as montages, quick shots, jump cuts and dissolves throughout the film.