A tale of how crime affects the poor population of Rio de Janeiro. Though the narrative skips around in time, the main focus is on Cabeleira who forms a gang called the Tender Trio and become a crime lord over the course of a decade. Amateur photographer Buscape, a good-natured boy who comically learns that he's not cut out to be a hoodlum, takes pictures of the brutal crime war, making their story famous.

Title in Portuguese: Cidade de deus. Based on the novel by Paulo Lins. Based on a true story. Video recordings for the hearing impaired.