city of god; motel massacre scene analysis

scene analysis: motel massacre 

Editing:

-shots are fast pace and don’t focus on one part of the killings in particular. This correlates with the fact that the robbers are armatures, and haven’t prepared too much for the robbery, and is rather an impulsive decision.  The fast editing also creates excitement for the audience and they may feel a part of the robbery as the shots are close up and are able to show detail.

Set/location:

-the scene is set in an area which is more wealth than the slums where the gangs live. The place they are robbing is also quiet luxurious compared to buildings and accommodation in the favelas. This could have been done by the director in order to show the vast comparison of the poor and the rich in Rio, and shows that people in the slums only have to drive a small distance to reach an area of affluence.  

Cinematography:
lighting: the lighting is bright and rich while the robbery is in progress, however, when the shot goes off and the pace slows down, thew lighting becomes minimal and dark, which signifies the change in fate for the group. the colouring and lighting in the motel is gold and rich in colour, which symbolises the wealth of the people who are being robbed. the director uses these colours to show the audience the vast contrast between the rich and poor in Rio. the dark lighting and colours present when they leave the motel shows the hopelessness outside of wealth and high status. if you did not have money and status in Rio then there was no hope or expectation.

Why might Dice have suggested the hold-up at the motel?

- the people who go to the motel would have been wealthy and of the middle/upper class and therefore would have valuable belongings for them to steal. the choice of the motel also hints at the frustration and anger of the lower class in the slums towards the rich. people in slums were neglected by the higher classes and the government, so the fact that they choose to rob from higher class people symbolises the segregation between rich and poor in Rio.      

What is the importance of religion here?

How is masculinity represented in this scene?

Masculinity is presented as over aggressive and exaggerated. This is shown when the group beat up people in the motel and ties workers up to stop them from calling the police or interfering with their robbery. the camera is often tilted upwards to show the men while they are robbing. this shows them as powerful and masculine and the audience feels as though they are inferior to the masculinity of the group.

Why the change of pace at the end of the scene?

-the end of the scene is much slower than the rest of the scene, which signifies a change in fate for the group. While they were robbing, everything was going to plan and they were able to steal valuables worth a lot of money. However, the slow pace after the robbery suggests that their fate has changed due to the killings.

key themes:
contrast between rich and poor

aggressive masculinity