671/365 - Brazil

Tonight's Meanwhile movie at the Wealthy Theatre is Brazil. Neither Chris or I have seen it. I'm thinking this is going to be an interesting few hours.

     

2 comments:

Chuck said...
January 18, 2011 at 10:58 PM  

So did you like it? It was just on cable a few days ago here, but I missed it.
From what I remember, I think our life today is more like Brazil than it was 20 years ago...

shatteredhaven said...
January 19, 2011 at 9:28 AM  

Brazil was odd. I'm sure it would be more on topic in the 80's than now. It's visually interesting, but even I noticed an excessive amount of paper in the movie. which is indicative of processes, ridged rules, etc. I get that - but in today's society it's more invisible. That red tape isn't quite a stack of papers or files on a desk per se.

The movie seemed like a commentary on automated processes, lack of human element/critical thinking, and on societies pre-ocupation with excess (face lifts, executive toys, etc). It was 1984-ish, but with a less explicit dialog. Like other stuff of gilliam's I've seen, it was looser in terms of plot delivery and heavier on the visuals. Kind of like Tim Burton, but I think Gilliam still has a message he tries to portray where at this point I dont think Burton has one at all.

The environment that the movie comments on doesnt exist anymore. In some ways I agree, I think we've moved closer to what the movie was pointing out as our path. but at the same time I think a lot more of it is seamless, or behind the scenes. The propogagnda we get is more sophisticated; not simply posters that are very orwellian in an office. Although, we do have something similar to that now thanks to Janet Naplitano's walmart ad. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ3XGFIYp5k&feature=related). so we're closer to that Brazil-like world, but it doesnt look like Brazil. It couldn't. We have a more astetically pleasing version, still full of buerocracy and processes without thought behind them. Ours is just sugarcoated a little better (more tv channels, more gadgets, softer & less investigative news, etc).

Plus, we dont have to use magnifying glasses positioned in front of tiny monitors attached to typewriters. :)

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