Explore how the stylstic choices of the director contribute to the representation of the urban environments in the film you have studies this topic

The director of City of God uses different stylistic ways to show how the cities changed. In the 1960's, a lot of open space, wide shots and one story buildings are used to portray how the people are optimistic about life, they had homes, jobs and the only crime was only low level as well as giving it a sense of community. The shots are bathed in gold lighting which adds to the sense of optimism. Natural imagery such as the picturesque lake and the sunset reinforce the representation of the favelas that there is a sort of wonder to the place.

City of God was made to eradicate the favelas however by the 1970's 'one-story houses have developed into two or three story structures,' and so City of God started to resemble one of many favelas. In comparison to the sixties, the seventies have more varying colours with a bluish tint, giving a more sterile, cold atmosphere. Its an area filled with tall buildings and enclosed spaces adding to a sense of paranoia. There are more obscured shots that also add to this feeling as it gives a sense of being watched.

The 1970's sequences placed in the favelas comes with another stylistic shift from the director. The favelas now look completely different to that of the 60's. The colouring is even more stark that before with most shots being of a night, it feels more dangerous. Shots are even more obscured, reinforcing the feeling of fear and paranoia. The dead bodies show how there is no hope of leaving the favelas.