What is the importance of mise-en-scene and sound in generating a response and generating meaning in City of God?

In the disco scene it begins with a close-up of Benny’s face which flashes in time with the music, thus drawing attention to it. The song, which is by James Brown who was a popular artist in the 70s represents the prominent issue of globalisation in the film, and how lesser economically developed areas adopt the cultures of richer areas of the world. The next shot is of Lil Ze coming into the frame, here Benny’s smile immediately disappears and the lighting suddenly becomes darker. This represents the character dynamic here, and shows the audience that it is strained, therefore foreshadowing Benny’s death and the hands of Lil Ze’s violence with others in the slum. The next shot is a split screen between Benny and the other people at the disco such as Rocket and Carrot. In these shots Benny can be seen surrounded by friends and dancing, apart from when Lil Ze is there and they both become isolated, perhaps creating the idea that Lil Ze holds Benny back and makes him seem almost vulnerable. Rocket then says the line “Benny was the coolest hood in the City of God” which instantly increases the audiences already sparked liking to Benny. On the left side of the split screen the lighting is bright green whereas on Benny’s side the lighting is much warmer. This could represent the envy felt by the other hoods in the City of God towards Benny, such as Rocket whose girlfriend is taken away from him by Benny.

The next shot of Benny and carrot is from above which could represent the fight for authority, or to be above one another, between the two characters. The still pleasant and groovy music in the background still challenges Lil Ze and Carrot’s voices which represents perhaps the concealment of the slums and the violence that goes on in them by western society. The next shot of carrot and Lil Ze arguing and Benny trying to split them up emphasises Benny’s want to calm the violence, the positioning of Benny in the middle, almost haloed by the blue light in the background foreshadows his sad end after being caught in the crossfire for such a long time. The camera is then back on Rocket and Angelica, again with green lighting on them reiterating Rocket’s jealousy of Benny throughout the scene. The scene then moves on to the runts robbing a shop, it is interesting that the placement of this scene comes just after the adults of the slum have been threatening and fighting with one another, it makes the audience perhaps feel more sorry for the runts because by being violent they are only copying and taking influence for what is around them, it is almost as though they are destined to be the way they are.