City Of God Scene Analysis (Benny's Farewell Party)

 

At the beginning of the scene, we see Lil Ze look at Rockett and Benny hugging, immediately we see Ze's face changes, as he is jealous of the relationship they both have. This shows the representation of power from Lil' Ze and how he craves it. As he needs to be the constant centre of attention, he struggles to accept that Benny has other friends. This also shows a poverty of emotion from Ze's point of view and he lacks the ability to control his emotions in a constructive way, and instead feels that aggression is the only appropriate action. It further shows the poverty of Ze's understanding as he tragically argues with Benny, his only friend.

We then see a shot of Blacky hiding behind a pillar at the back of the party. Due to a previous scene, it is clear to the audience that Blacky's intention is to kill Lil Ze. If he succeeds then the gang's territory will then belong to Carrot, however Blacky's intention is purely for revenge. The fact that Blacky is hidden around the corner could represent that in this urban environment, the lust for power lurks around every corner.

The conflict shown between Lil Ze and Rockett is based on jealousy from Lil Ze over the attention of Benny. As Lil Ze is used to being the leader, he is shocked to find out that Benny actually has a more successful life. He has a girlfriend, friends; money and the ability of communication and being liked by the community. It is at this point that Lil Ze realises that although on a materialistic point of view, he appears successful, he suffers from incredibly emotional poverty.



When the strobe light comes on, this could represent the flickering of life. A lot like the flickering of a candle, the more it flickers, the more likely the candle is to go out. As the strobe light continues, it allows the lust for power (represented visually by the character of Blacky) begins to close in. Blacky then takes a shot at Lil Ze but misses and hits Benny. The strobe light continues but the moments of darkness become longer, showing that the lust for power has taken a life and will always ultimately over ride any human relationship and Lil Ze attempts to maintain.

Lil Ze then takes out his aggression on Benny's girlfriend, Angelica, as she represents a life that Benny had that Lil Ze could never lead. She is a reminder about how lonely Lil Ze is and how he cannot get a girlfriend, or have the ability to keep a human relationship without letting the aim for power to take over. Angelica can also represent Lil Ze himself. As Benny and Lil Ze have been friends since they were children, Lil Ze obviously loved and cared about Benny. As he shouts at Angelica and blames it on her, it seems like Lil Ze is aware that it is his fault and is blaming it on himself; as at one point in Benny’s life, Lil Ze would of been the emotional support and he later received from Angelica.

Finally, Lil Ze shoots his gun into the air, showing that his extreme emotional poverty is something that is only taken out with aggression. As the strobe light begins to fade to darkness, it shows how a lust for power has finally closed in and how the inner conflict that Lil Ze faces with be his ultimate downfall.