city of god essay

 Explore how performance and mise-en-scene are used to enrich meaning in City of god. Make detailed reference to particular sequences in your answer. (20)

In City of God the use of colour in the tender trio introduction scene is used to present the themes of power, poverty and conflict in the Favelas but with the tender trio they are represented but not in a negative way. The use of colours and lighting do this as it is heavily based on the colour yellow which is connoted with happiness, loyalty and honour. This presents the tender trio made up of shaggy, clipper and Goose, they all represent the loyalty they have to their people also living in the favela as when they rob the truck the audience still views them positively as they give to the people of the favela. The performance further emphasises this as when they go to play football with the younger children the reactions showed by them further portrays them as good and genuine people who care for their community. They are all tall and well-groomed further portraying them as good people who take care of themselves and also those around them. 

They also juxtapose with Lil Ze who has no honour whereas the Tender trio show the idea of honour amongst thieves as they don't kill they just rob because they need to get in order to provide for their families this is a key theme mierles explores throughout this film. We see the idea of conflict as the police are presented in a negative way through the conflict they have with the Tender Trio, The police stop the people of the favela taking the gas that they need and by doing this the police are seen as they only serve the rich and don't care about the poor and the poor are the people that the spectator aligns with.

In the scene in which benny is shot we gain a deeper understanding of Lil Ze as this is the first time we see him display genuine emotions towards someone. The lighting creates confusion as you can only see every other movement this gives the spectator a understanding into lil Ze as the confusion the lighting creates shows the emotional confusion he feels and could possibly be hiding his homosexuality towards benny. This further emphasises the idea of the favellas being a confusing place filled with hate and death However mierles uses characters such as rocket to challenge the ideas she presents showing the complexity of Brazil.