However, the film draws heavily from the real-life violence and poverty that plagued the Cidade de Deus (City of God) favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the 1960s and 1970s.
The film's writer and director, Fernando Meirelles, and co-writer, Braulio Mantovani, drew inspiration from Paulo Lins's 1997 novel of the same name, which was itself based on Lins's own childhood experiences in the favela.
Here's what's true about the film's inspiration:
* The setting and social conditions: The film accurately depicts the poverty, lack of opportunities, and rampant drug trade that existed in Cidade de Deus during that period.
* The presence of gangs: The film's portrayal of the rivalry between different gangs in the favela is also rooted in reality.
* The violence: Sadly, the film's depiction of violence is based on real events that occurred in the favela.
However, the film is ultimately a fictionalized account of life in the Cidade de Deus.
* Characters are fictional: While the film draws from the real-life experiences of people in the favela, the characters and their stories are not based on specific individuals.
* Narrative liberties: The film takes creative liberties with the timeline and specific events to tell a compelling narrative.
So, while City of God is not a true story in the literal sense, it is deeply rooted in the real-life struggles and violence experienced by the people of the Cidade de Deus favela.