Cast
Many characters are known only by nicknames. The literal translation of these nicknames is given next to their original Portuguese name; the names given in English subtitles are sometimes different.
| Name | Actor(s) | Name in English subtitles | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buscapé ("Firecracker") | Alexandre Rodrigues (adult) Luis Otávio (child) |
Rocket | The main narrator and protagonist. A quiet, honest boy who dreams of becoming a photographer, and the only character who seems to keep from being dragged down into corruption and murder during the gang wars. |
| Zé Pequeno ("Little Joe") childhood: Dadinho ("Little Eddy") |
Leandro Firmino da Hora (adult) Douglas Silva (child) |
Li'l Zé Li'l Dice |
A sociopathic drug dealer who takes sadistic pleasure in killing his rivals. When his only friend, Benny, is struck by fate, it drives him over the edge. "Dado" is a common nickname for Eduardo, and "inho" a diminutive suffix; "dado" also means "dice". The fact that he becomes Zé Pequeno as an adult may suggest that his Christian name is José Eduardo – Zé is a nickname for José, while pequeno means "little". However, since the name was chosen in a religious ceremony, it may also be unrelated to his actual name. |
| Bené ("Benny") | Phellipe Haagensen (adult) Michel de Souza (child) |
Benny | Zé's longtime partner in crime, he is a friendly City of God drug dealer who fancies himself a sort of Robin Hood, and wants to eventually lead an honest life. |
| Sandro, nicknamed Cenoura ("Carrot") | Matheus Nachtergaele | Carrot | A smaller-scale drug dealer who is friendly with Benny but is constantly threatened by Zé. |
| Mané Galinha ("Chicken Manny") | Seu Jorge | Knockout Ned | A handsome, charismatic ladies' man. Zé rapes his girlfriend and then proceeds to massacre several members of Ned's family. Ned joins forces with Carrot to retaliate against Zé. His name was changed for the English subtitles because in English, "chicken" is a term for a coward (in Brazil it denotes popularity among women). "Mané" is a nickname for Manuel. |
| Cabeleira ("Long Hair") | Jonathan Haagensen | Shaggy | Older brother of Bené ("Benny") and the leader of the Tenderness Trio ("Trio Ternura"), a group of thieves who share their profit with the population of the City of God. |
| Marreco ("Garganey") | Renato de Souza | Goose | One of the Tenderness Trio, and Rocket's brother. |
| Alicate ("Pliers") | Jefechander Suplino | Clipper | One of the Tenderness Trio. Later gives up crime and joins the church. |
| Barbantinho ("Little twine") | Edson Oliveira (adult) Emerson Gomes (child) |
Stringy | Childhood friend of Rocket. |
| Angélica | Alice Braga | Angélica | An old friend and love interest of Rocket, and later Benny's girlfriend, who motivates him to abandon the criminal life. |
| Tiago | Daniel Zettel | Tiago | Angélica's redheaded boyfriend, who later becomes Li'l Zé's associate and a drug addict. |
| Filé com Fritas ("Steak with Fries") | Darlan Cunha | Steak with Fries | A young drug addict hired by Zé's gang. |
| Charles, nicknamed Tio Sam ("Uncle Sam") | Charles Paraventi | Charles / Uncle Sam | A weapons dealer. |
| Marina Cintra | Graziella Moretto | Marina Cintra | A journalist for Jornal do Brasil, who hires Rocket as a photographer. Rocket has his first sexual experience with her. |
| Touro ("Bull") | Luiz Carlos Ribeiro Seixas | Touro | An honest police officer. |
| Cabeção ("Big Head") | Maurício Marques | Melonhead | A corrupt police officer. |
| Lampião ("Lantern") | Thiago Martins | Lampião | Child leader of the Runts gang |
| Marcos Junqueira | Otávio | Marcos Junqueira | Child leader of the Runts gang |
Read more about this topic: City Of God (2002 film)
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