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"My
biggest dream was to work in cinema. City of God was a perfect first
job," she acknowledged.
Still amazed at the global impact that City has
had, Braga confided "I never dreamed the City of God would be a
blockbuster, go to the academy awards, go to the whole world and talk
about a terrible situation that happens in Brazil."
But Braga is quick to add that City is distinctive
not only because of its critical and box office success. "City of
God is not just a movie, it's a project because it shows everyone that
we can use culture, we can use cinema and we can use art to show how
hard the situation is in Brazil," said Braga.
Separately, City is yielding long term benefits for
the children who worked on the project. The filmmakers behind City
created a group called We in Cinema, where children in the favela can
produce short films and learn about the directing, editing, and
cinematography fields. While Braga participates in WIC's programs, she
is more active in her hometown of Sao Paolo.
Despite growing up middle class, performing in City of
God opened Braga's eyes to the realities of favela life. "I
learned how it's hard to live with need and without food or
electricity," said Braga. As a result, she's committed to
"use [her] work as an actress to show reality and to help the
people."
However, not everyone in Brazil was ready for the
reality depicted in City, "A lot of people were saying it's too
violent and other people saying it's amazing," recalled Braga.
But despite criticism, City was a commercial success in Brazil. Braga
suspects this was because even those who criticized the onscreen violence
thought it was a must see film.
And Braga insists that any negative effect the
film's violence has on Brazilian tourism is a small price to pay for
exposing social condition in the favela. For her, the issue boils
down to whether "Brazil is going to worry about tourism or worry
about the people."
M
February 2004
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