City of God - Characters & Cast

To survive the chaos of the City of God and escape the cycle of poverty and violence by pursuing his dream of becoming a photographer.

Rocket begins as a timid boy in a violent world, dreaming of a life beyond the favela. He consistently chooses a path away from crime, despite the pressures and lack of opportunities. His passion for photography evolves from a simple hobby into a professional skill that becomes his means of both documenting and escaping his reality. By the end of the film, he has navigated the treacherous environment, maintained his moral compass, and seized an opportunity to build a future for himself, transforming from a passive observer to an active storyteller.

To achieve absolute power and control over the drug trade in the City of God through fear, intimidation, and extreme violence.

Starting as Li'l Dice, he is a young boy with an insatiable appetite for violence and power. He participates in a massacre at a motel, cementing his ruthless nature. As he grows into Li'l Zé, he systematically eliminates his rivals to become the most feared and powerful drug lord in the City of God. His arc is one of relentless ambition, paranoia, and brutality. He never develops beyond his sociopathic tendencies, and his reign of terror ultimately leads to his downfall at the hands of the next generation of young killers he helped create.

To escape the violent life of crime and start a new, peaceful existence away from the City of God.

Benny is Li'l Zé's partner and the more humane face of their criminal enterprise. He is well-liked and fancies himself a "playboy" and a Robin Hood figure. Over time, he grows tired of the violence and longs for a peaceful life away from the favela with his girlfriend, Angélica. His arc is one of attempted redemption; he seeks to escape the criminal world he helped build. Tragically, his desire to leave leads to his accidental death at his own farewell party, which in turn sparks the all-out gang war that consumes the City of God.

To seek revenge against Li'l Zé for the assault on his girlfriend and the murder of his family members.

Ned is initially a principled, peace-loving bus conductor and former soldier who stays out of the local crime. He is drawn into the conflict after Li'l Zé assaults him and brutally rapes his girlfriend. This transforms him into a vigilante seeking revenge. He allies with a rival dealer, Carrot, and becomes a legendary figure in the ensuing gang war. However, his quest for vengeance consumes him, and he becomes a part of the violent cycle he once stood against, ultimately leading to his own death.