City of God Scene Analysis

Explain how a deeper analysis of cinematography and/or aesthetics techniques can deepen a contextual understanding of your chosen films.

The scene from City of God that I have chosen to analyse is the scene where Shaggy dies. This scene is also known as 'Man Down'. During this scene the cinematography conveys a physical 'barrier' between the two genders, which could also be a foreshadowing of what will happen to the two characters because the become separated through Shaggy's death. Before the couple get into the car Bernice runs in front of the car with her hands out which is one of multiple references to the iconic Rio landmark 'Christ the Redeemer' that are made throughout the film. The fact that she makes this pose could be because she thinks that her and Shaggy are going to get out of the favela and live a happy life by being 'redeemed', but later in the scene it is made clear that both of them will not be leaving the favela as Shaggy is gunned down and the car she is in seems like it is turning out of the favela, but is ultimately revealed to be turning on to another street in the favela, which could be a reference to how the favela's streets are like a never ending cycle that you can only escape through death and the cinematography shown in this part of the scene is a high angle looking down at the speeding car which shows the viewer that the favela just keeps going further reinforcing the idea that you can never escape the favela. Also, towards the end of the scene, crowds start to form around Shaggy's dead body and the only thing that Rocket (another character in the film) is interested in is the camera in the reporters hand, which is a direct contrast to how Li'l Dice reacts to a gun int he scene where the 'tender trio' and Li'l Dice rob a hotel, being completely mesmerised by the object.