City of God was probably one of the most violent and R rated movies I have ever seen. Usually, the R rated movies are overly dramatic and violent, with little authenticity. As the movie progressed, I realized these are real choices people, often young people, make due to lack of mentorship and financial stability. These young men decided to turn to violence and crime in order to survive. Even good and righteous men like Knockout Ned turned to violence due to circumstances. I felt Li’l Dice was in control when his friend Benny was around him. After Benny passed away, Li’l Dice turned to even more violence and ended up raping Knockout Ned’s girlfriend, which I thought was against the gang’s rules. Nevertheless, that showed how important it is to have a positive mentor to watch over individuals stuck in these situations, surrounded by crime, gangs, and violence.