How far can it be argued that your chosen films provide a 'realistic' representation of the people and places they focus on?
To some extent City of God provides a realistic representation, however it also provides fictional, as well as dream like representations.
City of God provides a realistic representation as the actors grew up in the Favelas and as it isn't a well developed area, had no acting training. The director also revealed that only 30% of City of God was scripted and the rest, was improvised and natural. In the opening scene of City of God when they go back in time to the 1960's. The young boys who live in the village are playing with a football when the Tender Trio, Clipper, Shaggy and Goose, appear and they take the ball and start playing around. This is when we see Shaggy throw the ball up in the air, pull out a gun and shoot the ball with perfect aim. City of God also provides a realistic representation through the use of hand held cameras throughout the film and is present in this scene. We then see the Tender Trio pull bandannas over their faces and chase after the gas truck that's driving through their village. Shaggy stands in the middle of the road with a gun pointed towards the driver of the truck, the trio then rob the driver of his bosses money and take the gas for the locals. You can clearly see that this isn't really 'acted' but more natural as the actors would have most likely done this themselves or witnessed it when they were younger. the use of the diagetic sound of a gunshot also shows a sense of reality. This related well to the issue of poverty that's raised throughout the film as the Favelas are the poorest areas of Brazil, therefore, people have to steal to be able to get by easier in life. there re approximately 1000 Fravelas in Rio De Janeiro alone!
