There are many similarities between Meirelles’s City of God, released in 2003 in Brazil and Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, released in 2008 in the United Kingdom, at the most the two films being comparable of main characters. These similarities are two different by two different sides of the world and how the main characters get out of the slums. These both films have a positive outcomes but have had rough upcoming to get out of the ghetto. The first similar pair of characters are the main characters, Rocket from City of God and Slumdog Millionaire, Jamal Malik.
Both are somewhat of an outsider they didn’t choose the wrong path, they were just surrounded by people that did bad. For Rocket was surrounded by crime, death, gang and drugs. As fo Jamal was around his brother Salim who was becoming evil in front of Jamal’s eyes as the years progressed, by controlling Jamal, threating/shooting people for things he wanted and just putting situations on these shoulders. These characters held back from fighting back and standing up for them selves because they knew they would have ended up beaten or dead.
Another shared qualities Rocket and Jamal have is that they have a passion for something or someone; Rocket has a passion for photography and for Jamal has a passion for his best friend who he has cared about for years and wanting to look for her, Latika. Lil Ze and Salim have similar characters, they both are heartless villains. Lil Ze was the nastiest movie villain, by the fact that he was killing at a young age (guessing by 9), and wanting to be the b control boss of City of God.
Salim wanting control over Maman for what Maman has put Salim and Jamal through. Getting the chance to kill Maman, this where Salim’s evil side came out and becoming a hit man for the underground gang lord’s, Salim wanting to escape poverty he choose to work in the lowest work. For these characters having no sympathy, but one of the changes, Salim changes for the sake of his brother’s love for Latika to escape. Also to consider some sort of heroism that Salim sacrificed his life for Latika to reunite with her friend Jamal.
There is very little to speak about the female leads, Angelica City of God and Latika from Slumdog Millionaire, both characters where lovers of the main characters. Angelica liked Rocket but fell in love with Benny due to his kindness and his change of clothing which made his look like a playboy. As for Latika, her and Jamal where best friends since they were children. Both female characters loved these troubled men. Despite the similarities between the two films, they have there differences which separates them.
City of God unfolds Rockets story of how he became a photographer. A war breaking out between two gangs (Lil Ze and Carrots runts) for about a year forgetting how they were fighting. The Rio press accidently published photos that Rocket took a photo shoot on Lil Ze’s gang, making Rocket paranoid, Lil Ze was glad that Rocket published it, some sort of fame. As the violence escalated, Rocket had a photo coverage in the press of the bloody murderous scene, following by Lil Ze’s death by the Runts, that divides its population of the upcoming youth.
After separating from Salim for years, Jamal connected with his brother through a phone call center where he was just a tea vendor, and was spot on demanded to answer calls. But searched for his brother instead, finding out that Salim worked for the Mumbai criminal underworld, this is where Salim found Latika. Where Salim sacrificed himself for Latika to free her, after so long of a search of her that Jamal and Salim was searching for. These characters where chasing for a better future for themselves, through all the sacrifices.
The ending of these films are comparing and contrasted, both evil villains died by a gun shot. They are different because of what they died for. A simple, direct contrast between these films is the fact that in City of God, one of the antagonists killing for Lil Ze, while for Slumdog Millionaire it was a protagonist killing for Salim. Lil Ze died for his gang and his pride, as for Salim dying for his brothers friend, that was his apology for what he has put Jamal though, Salim’s loyalty to get Latika back. These opposite endings further illustrate a negative and positive side of death.
Even though these good and bad sides to these films that happened in the two of the world’s largest slums, as two perspectives of different countries. City of God was the control of the drug lords in Rio de Janerio and Slumdog Millionaire the invasion of the Muslims. These help clarify the importance of these films with Rio being controlled and in India’s invasion. As a strong good ending to these films is that Rocket became a famous photographer and very successful with his work, coming out of the slums and becoming wealthy.
As for Jamal becoming poor to rich, for playing the questionnaire game, and knowing every single question for just searching for his best friend being put in situations. For these two characters being smart and wise about their decisions. This was interesting to find these two films with relatable topics, similar characters relationships and the same backgrounds of the characters. These classics provide description and views of Rio and India that created hope of people wanting to get out of the slums.
