City Of God (2002): Youth gangs took over the slums of Rio de Janeiro during the 1960s and didn't relinquish their stronghold until the mid-1980s. Only a sucker wouldn't have turned to crime and this is exactly how naive teen Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues) views himself. His attempts in illegal activity fail as he finds potential victims too friendly. Equally unsuccessful in love, he regularly fails to lose his virginity. Blood spills throughout the streets of the Cidade de Deus as gang leader Li'l Ze (Douglas Silva) is challenged by local druglords and a gang of pre-teens known as the Runts.

Nominated for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2004 Oscars.

(Dir. Fernando Meirelles, Cert. 18)

Hero (2004): One man will challenge an empire...


In pre-Imperial China, feared warrior Nameless (Jet Li) is granted an audience with the ruler of the most powerful of the seven warring kingdoms (Chen Daoming). Posing as a minor official, Nameless sets about his mission of revenge by relating the tale of how he defeated the three most fearsome of the ruler's adversaries. However, nothing is as it seems and Nameless is placed in great personal peril as the king suggests a very different version of events which brought him to the palace...


Filled with breathtaking wirework-enhanced martial arts sequences from action choreographer Ching Siu-Tung ('New Dragon Gate Inn', 'A Chinese Ghost Story'), truly sumptuous cinematography from the legendary Christopher Doyle ('In The Mood For Love') and an expressive traditional score from Tan Dun ('Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'), Zhang Yimou's elegant epic features an intriguing 'Rashomon' style flashback structure that will keep the audience guessing until the very end.


The most expensive movie ever made in China and a blockbuster upon its' theatrical release in the U.S., 'Hero' showcases the outstanding talents ofa multi-award winning cast including the pairing of Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung as star crossed lovers, the coquettish Zhang Ziyi ('Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon') as a feisty apprentice, venerated Chen Daoming lending gravitas as the Emperor-in-waiting and real-life martial arts masters Donnie Yen and Jet Li who co-designed perhaps the greatest duel ever committed to celluloid.


Nominated for both an Oscar and a BAFTA, 'Hero' is an exceptional example of Asian cinema and "really is one of the best looking films ever made." - The Guardian