City of Men


City of Men is a Brazilian television programme created by Kátia Lund and Fernando Meirelles, the directors of the film City of God.
The series was watched by 35 million viewers in Brazil and was released internationally on DVD shortly after the film. In 2007, a feature-length film based on the series was released.
It is often cited as a "spin-off" of the film: City of God ; City of Men is a less violent and more light-hearted affair with dramedy elements. However, the two do share some common aspects: the directors, some of the actors, and the setting of the Brazilian favela with its background of gangsters and poverty.
The programme tells the stories of Luis Cláudio and Uólace, better known by their nicknames Acerola and Laranjinha, respectively, who are two best friends who live in a notorious Rio slum, in a community of drug-dealers, hustlers, and teenagers struggling to fulfill their dreams.

Production

A co-production of Meirelles and Globo TV, the largest TV channel in Brazil, the show aired Fridays, at 11 p.m. for four seasons.
Each season aired roughly one year after the previous one, and the characters, as it happens with the actors who portray them, are shown to age from one season to the next. As a result, the stories of each season reflect the struggles of poor kids from Rio de Janeiro in the appropriate age group: in Season 1, the characters are about 13 years old, that is, barely out of childhood and into adolescence; Season 4 shows them age 17, on the verge of adulthood, and the evolution of their dilemmas. A movie with Laranjinha and Acerola turning 18 has now been released in Brazil and in the United States.
Silva and Cunha starred in the 2000 short film Palace II, directed by Meirelles, a dry run for the film City of God. In the short, Silva played Larinjinha and Cunha played Acerola.

Episodes

The dates listed below are the original air dates on Globo TV and original DVD releases in Brazil.

Season 1

in 2002, released on DVD on February 12, 2003
  1. A Coroa do Imperador
  2. * When their history teacher announces a surprise plan to take the class on an educational field trip to see The Emperor's Crown and learn more about the Napoleonic Wars, Laranjinha and Acerola greet the news with ambivalence as they need to come up with the R$6.50 it will cost each of them to go. A war breaks out in the favela and Acerola comes to realize its similarity to the Napoleonic wars.
  3. O Cunhado do Cara
  4. * When Acerola's sister starts dating the "Favela boss" everybody suddenly starts to respect him. He has never had this much status in the neighborhood before—and he has never had this much temptation to abuse it. Acerola goes too far with his newfound powers and strains his friendship with Laranjinha.
  5. Correio
  6. * Laranjinha and Acerola become the favela's postmen. Acerola's favela is so dangerous that even the government will not deliver mail there, a serious problem that irks the residents and prompts a local drug lord to make Acerola the ad hoc postmaster. Acerola and Laranjinha try to make some improvements to the system and initiate a scheme to name the streets of the favela.
  7. Uólace e João Vitor
  8. * A day in the life of Uólace and João Victor. On any given day, 13-year-old Laranjinha is struggling to survive in his dangerous favela, where violence runs rampant and hunger is a way of life. Meanwhile, in a well-appointed apartment overlooking Laranjinha's neighborhood, 13-year-old João Vitor has a radically different perspective. João Vitor is a middle-class boy raised by his single mother. The apparent differences between the two lives are subsumed by their similarities.

    Season 2

Produced in 2003, released on DVD on February 27, 2004
  1. Sábado
  2. * Like most teenagers living in favelas, Larajinha and Acerola cannot wait for the funk carioca dance. Armed with a new hairstyle, Laranjinha looks forward to an all-night dance party, where he aims to make out with at least four pretty girls. Meanwhile, Acerola hopes his performance with a funk dance group will impress a classmate.
  3. Dois Pra Brasília
  4. * Determined to help a girl he likes get her grandfather out of prison, Acerola enlists Laranjinha and a borrowed camcorder from the neighborhood to film his journey from Rio to the capital city of Brasília, all so he can deliver a letter to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
  5. Tem Que Ser Agora
  6. * The beach, the great leveller of Brazilian society, where all the social classes meet. Laranjinha and Acerola are on a mission to deliver some surfboards, head to the coast and find that everyone else in Rio had the same idea. The holiday takes an unexpected turn when the boys catch wind of a rumor that, if true, could have serious implications. Laranjinha flirts with Camila and finds out she is an upper middle-class girl. Duda tries to avoid João when she finds he is from the favela. Suddenly, a group of middle-class 'playboys' starts a confrontation. In the middle of all this confusion the teenagers only think about one thing: losing their virginity.
  7. Os Ordinários
  8. * While surfing, Acerola saves a wealthy Japanese-Brazilian boy from drowning at the beach, his actions spark an unexpected friendship that crosses color and socioeconomic boundaries. They bond and Acerola, Laranjinha and João start hanging out with the boy and his brother, who are from São Paulo. The result is a group they dub The Ordinaries.
  9. Buraco Quente
  10. * Laranjinha's Cousin Espeto manages drug dealing in his area. When Espeto has a near-death experience, it prompts him to reevaluate his life, and his career as a criminal. Espeto wants out, but leaving the business can be tough, so Laranjinha and Acerola help out.

    Season 3

Produced in 2004, released on DVD on March 30, 2005
  1. A Estréia
  2. * When Acerola's mother goes out of town for the weekend and leaves him without a chaperone, the boys vow to practice their romantic skills with some local girls.
  3. Foi Sem Querer
  4. * When Laranjinha romances a pretty girl who already has a boyfriend, he has to enlist Acerola for protection. Meanwhile, the boys try their hand at a small business to raise money for the favela's community center.
  5. Vacilo É Um Só
  6. * Learning about the breeding habits of tiny ants in school prompts Laranjinha, Acerola and their classmates to think about their own sexuality. Meanwhile, Acerola strives to stay out of trouble by spending the day with the leader of the favela's community association.
  7. Hip Sampa Hop
  8. * When Laranjinha's cousin, Espeto, announces that he is taking a trip to São Paulo, Laranjinha and Acerola decide to tag along. Once there, they discover the city's vibrant hip-hop scene and become immersed in the culture—and the drama that goes along with it.
  9. Pais e Filhos
  10. * When Laranjinha and Acerola apply for social security at work, it prompts thoughts about their futures and jump-starts Laranjinha's quest for his own "lost" father.

    Season 4 (final season)

Produced in 2005, released on DVD on April 25, 2006
  1. A Fila
  2. Tá Sobrando Mês
  3. Atração Fatal
  4. As Aparências Enganam
  5. Em Algum Lugar do Futuro N
N Finale special: animated episode projecting the future of the main characters.

International release

Internationally, a DVD was released including the episodes from both seasons 1 and 2. The DVD was released on 27 September 2004.
  1. The Emperor's Crown
  2. The Man's Brother-in-Law
  3. The Post
  4. Uólace And João Vitor
  5. Saturday/Sunday
  6. The Two On Their Way To Brasília
  7. It Has To Be Now
  8. The Ordinaries
  9. Hot Spot
Entire Series - US DVD
In 2017 a new series was aired, continuing the story about Laranjinha and Acerola, now fathers of their own sons: Davi and Clayton, respectively. The boys have the same relationship as their fathers had when youngsters.

Season 1 (2017)

The first season follows the discovery of a fatal heart disease in Davi. The situation develops when Clayton steals money from a drug lord. Laranjinha wants to use the money to pay for his son's surgery, as Acelora fears retaliation from the drug dealers.

Season 2 (2018)

Laranjinha faces the return of his ex-wife and mother of Davi. Poderosa, who left the boy when he was still a baby, and now intends to do everything to see him again, despite the fathers disagreement. The second season has the return of João Vitor, now Davi and Clayton's teacher.