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City of Men

(Rated TV-14, Drama, Starring Douglas Silva, Darlan Cunha, Where to watch: Sundance Channel, DVD)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Gritty drama about Brazilian boys growing up fast.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–18

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The teen characters have to rely on their wits and each other to survive their poor neighborhood's mean streets. This show doesn't provide lessons, per say, but it's eye-opening and informative.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    The drug lords pull guns on their victims and also use emotional manipulation to get their way. The slum that the characters live in is violent by nature.

  • Sex:

    Some flirting and kissing. Later seasons find the teen characters thinking a lot about sex. One of the characters' older, unmarried sisters gets pregnant.

  • Language:

    "Chicken s--t" is spelled out in a subtitle.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    The boys' neighborhood lives and breathes the drug trade, and they interact with many people who are invovled in dealing/using/selling.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About City of Men

Parents need to know that this somewhat gritty Brazilian series centers around the lives of a pair of teen boys who live in an impoverished area of Rio de Janeiro. They encounter violence every day, most often generated by the drug lords who rule the streets. Though this may alarm some viewers, the show is well done and may serve to open the eyes of teens who aren't aware of how their peers across the globe live.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about different living conditions around the world. Why do some countries have plenty of food and resources while others suffer from famine? Do you think parts of America are similar to the environment shown in this series? Do the media pay enough attention to poverty and need, both locally and internationally? What is the government's role in making sure citizens are taken care of?
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