Max - City of God: The Fight Rages on : Let’s talk with the cast

By Mulder, Brésil, 16 august 0002 to 16 august 2024

City of God: The Fight Rages On is a riveting continuation of the story initially depicted in the 2002 Brazilian film City of God. This follow-up delves deeper into the relentless violence and social decay plaguing the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. As the brutal gang warfare intensifies, the film portrays the harsh realities faced by those living in these marginalized communities, where hope and despair intertwine in a daily struggle for survival. The narrative underscores the cyclical nature of poverty and violence, emphasizing how systemic issues continue to perpetuate the chaos, leaving a powerful commentary on the broader socio-economic challenges in Brazil. The film's unflinching portrayal of life in the favelas serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle for justice and equity in the face of overwhelming adversity. We had the opportunity to interview the two main actors Alexandre Rodrigues, Roberta Rodrigues and the executive producer Fernando Meirelles.

Q : Your character has been a strong presence in both the original film and now the series. How has her story developed, and what new challenges does she face in this upcoming series ?

Roberta Rodrigues : Berenice has always been empowered. She was always like this in the film, and 20 years later, she went through several issues. She had been imprisoned due to a betrayal from a bandit. She has a daughter and now has a great partner, but at the same time, she is very independent and very revolutionary. She is very concerned about the community and is not in favor of crime. She believes that the City of God can be a different place. Together with her friend Cynthia, who is part of the association of local residents, she observes, and we can see the politics entering the community. This is the only way to see effective changes. In each episode, Berenice becomes more and more potent. You will see that until the last episode, where you will understand the trajectory of this woman who changes perspectives, understanding her true path, and how she can really transform that reality.

Q : Considering the series is a continuation of City of God, how did you feel about reprising your role? Did you draw on any specific experiences or emotions from the original film during filming ?

Roberta Rodrigues : I feel privileged to be part of this 20 years later. Every scene that you watch with Berenice, you can be sure that she was alive in my first rehearsal. I found the same person during preparation. When we met, we cried out of emotion. She said, 'Berenice is alive.' Yes, she was kept alive within me—not just in me, but in all Black women in Brazil who somehow feel represented by her. It is a privilege to be able to tell the story in which we broaden local society's view towards hope and transformation.

Q : How does Rocket's character evolve in this series compared to the original film? What aspects of his journey were most challenging or rewarding for you to portray ?

Alexandre Rodrigues : Little Rocket will be seen him realizing his dream, which is photography, and being very successful professionally. I believe you will see him with more maturity—20 years will have passed. The big challenge was to accept the invitation, understand that we would be returning to do a series, and talk about this story from a film that was so transcendental. I can say it changed my story, my career, and also Brazilian cinema. It also changed how people abroad view our art and cinema. After experiencing all these emotions, we would get back to talk about City of God. Reading the screenplay with the preparation from Fatima, I understood that there are many more stories to tell. There is much more water to go under the bridge, and I am really very happy with what we could accomplish.

Q : How do you think Rocket’s experience as a photojournalist adds a new dimension to the story ?

Alexandre Rodrigues : The film and the series are narrated by Little Rocket, through his point of view. This is how the story is being told, with his perspective as a photographer talking about his journey. At this point, his big conflict is with this dream, which in a certain way got a little lost. We will talk about his conflict between what he is living—which is his dream—and how he deals with his daughter, for example, who has a different point of view from his.

Q : What do you hope the audience takes away from City of God: The Fight Rages On? Is there a particular message or emotion you want to leave with viewers ?

Roberta Rodrigues : It is to say that we need to have hope, no matter where we are in the world. We need to understand that politics is for everyone, and we need to have political awareness about the place we live. Nowadays, we have another very important factor: the internet. We can know what's going on everywhere in this connected world, so we can look to our side. Through this series, people everywhere can understand that there is a community that needs to be seen and deserves more attention. We need public policies working in these places. We need health, education, sports, and mental health, which is basic but very little mentioned and totally necessary. It is about thinking and having hope for better days.

Alexandre Rodrigues : For me, hope is a reference from my childhood. I did not have many references of people with the same ethnicity, color, or skin color. The reference we represent today—me, Roberta, and others in the cast—sends a message to those who come from communities and places deprived of public attention: we can have power, we can dream, and moreover, we can realize our dreams and live out of them.

Q : What motivated you to revisit the world of City of God after more than two decades, and what do you hope the new series will bring to the audience that the original film did not ?

Fernando Meirelles : Brazil changed a lot during this period. I would summarize that in City of God, the population of the communities was seen as victims. In the first movie, we showed the deprivation and the lack of resources. In the meantime, Black movements and leaderships emerged in these communities. So, To use a phrase we use in Brazil: we are no longer focusing on the needs but on the power. The organized population can achieve and face any threat. The big threat in the movie was drug trafficking. What we will see now is the change to the militias, who really expelled the drug dealers but are now taking over. Expelled policemen from the corporation now control these areas, and they are connected to public servants and the government. The series shows the population reacting, taking their lives into their own hands.

Q : How did working with director Aly Muritiba and the new writing team shape the direction of the series? What fresh perspectives did they bring to the project ?

Fernando Meirelles : Aly watched the movie, and of course, it was expected to be a continuation, so he uses some similar elements—handheld camera, less controlled interpretation—but the project is completely Aly. He used that as a reference and incorporated it into his series, so the public will see the references from how I told the story, but there is Aly unique touch, who revised the whole screenplay.

Synopsis :
The daily life of a group of teenagers living in a favela in Rio de Janeiro in the early 2000s. The entire community is torn apart by conflicts between drug traffickers, police and militiamen, but adopts a position of collective resistance, through the eyes of its inhabitants.

City of God: The Fight Rages On
Based on City of God by Paulo Lins
Written by Renata Di Carmo, Rodrigo Felha, Sergio Machado, Aly Muritiba, Armando Praça, Estevão Ribeio
Directed by Aly Muritiba
Cast Alexandre Rodrigues, Thiago Martins, Roberta Rodrigues, Sabrina Rosa, Edson Oliveirra , Wayne LeGette , Marcos Palmeira, Andréia Horta
Executive producer : Fernando Meirelles
Production company : O2 Filmes
Network : Max
Release : 25 August 2024

We would like to thank Fernando Meirelles, Alexandre Rodrigues, and Roberta Rodrigues for answering our questions.