Cinematically and visually stunning, a political, hunger games-esque storyline with believable acting and I thought very interesting, life-like characters. The script is intelligent, the characters are strong, and the interaction is elegant in it's simplicity and natural air.
Excellent directing and cinematography here, a lot of subtle commentary in say a picture or shot (a thousand words). I believe it is the same cinematographer of City of God and the resemblance is there.
This won't have you walking away with too much feel-good or inspirational qualities. This does not much inspire you with it's beauty to be a better person, or help you in your struggles at an honest life, but it is a beautiful work of art that is gripping, entertaining, and has much fodder in the subtleties, particularly the social dynamics and the display of humanity in each of the varied characters. It is an exploration of psychology, social experiment, morality, and what humans are made of. It might make us ask along the way what we are made of.. but that is the extent of its ability to inspire.
If you believe we are heading into a 1984 era, you might welcome the realism in this work. Otherwise, it is a nice futuristic escape and exploration into what that might be like, while at the same time appreciating the human capacity in us all.
