Cidade de Deus

If you are born in “Cidade de Deus,” a notorious favela in Rio de Janeiro, childhood ends early. What might be playground games elsewhere is gang warfare here — with real guns. In this impoverished neighborhood, the ruthless Dadinho and the shy Buscapé grow up side by side. To survive, Dadinho turns to cocaine dealing, violence, and armed robbery. Buscapé, on the other hand, dreams of becoming a photographer.

Twenty years later, both have achieved their goals: Buscapé is a successful photographer, while Dadinho — now known as “Zé Pequeno” — has risen to become Rio’s most feared drug dealer. In “Cidade de Deus,” his word is law — until Mané Galinha appears.