Cidade de Deus
"If you run, the beast catches you; if you stay, the beast eats you."
City of God - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
Dadinho o caralho, meu nome agora é Zé Pequeno, porra!
— Li'l Zé
Context:
After taking over his first drug-dealing spot, the character formerly known as Li'l Dice announces his new identity to his terrified underlings, solidifying his authority and marking a new era of his reign.
Meaning:
"Screw Li'l Dice! My fucking name is Li'l Zé now!" This line marks the character's transition from a young hoodlum to a self-proclaimed, powerful drug lord. It signifies his rejection of his childhood identity and his embrace of a new, fearsome persona, a name he commands through terror.
Moleque? Eu fumo, eu cheiro. Já matei, já roubei. Eu sou homem.
— Steak-and-Fries (one of the Runts)
Context:
When confronted by an older gangster and called a kid, the young boy known as Steak-and-Fries defiantly lists his criminal accomplishments as proof of his maturity, shocking the older criminal and the audience.
Meaning:
"A kid? I smoke, I snort. I've killed and robbed. I'm a man." This chilling quote encapsulates the theme of lost innocence. It reveals the warped perception of manhood in the favela, where committing adult crimes is the rite of passage, demonstrating how the cycle of violence corrupts children.
Na Cidade de Deus, se correr o bicho pega, se ficar o bicho come.
— Rocket (narrator)
Context:
This line is part of Rocket's narration, explaining the brutal catch-22 of life in the City of God. It sets the tone for the entire film, defining the environment where the characters' stories unfold.
Meaning:
"In the City of God, if you run, the beast catches you; if you stay, the beast eats you." This is the film's tagline and its central thesis. It perfectly describes the inescapable nature of the favela's violence and poverty. No matter what choice is made, danger is imminent, highlighting the hopelessness of the situation for its residents.