Movie Mania #1: Brazil

Terry Gilliam used to be a member of the Monty Python team. It was Gilliam who designed the strange and wonderful animated graphics that one associates with many Monthy Python productions. Some of the madness of Monty Python clearly rubbed off on Gilliam because as a director many of his own movies depict events or scenario's that are at times hilarious and also quite terrifying. None more so than in his 1985 masterpiece, Brazil.

Brazil could have been called 1984 Revisited, so dark and bleak is its view of the future, dominated as it is by a huge and uncaring bureaucracy that puts more emphasis on finding a place for everything, and putting everything (and everyone) in its place.

Twenty-one years after it was released this film is just as powerful, if not more so, now, than it was in 1985. One of the clear parallels between the world depicted in this film and today, is the 'war on terror' being waged in Brazil. Just as frightening is the depiction in the film, of the extreme measures being used to combat terrorism. Especially those involving the torture of civilian suspects.

I love this movie and watch it at least once a year, and every time I am moved by the power of the story. Terry Gilliam does not pander to his audience. If you are one of those people who like a happy ending to their movies, you might give this one a miss. However, you would be missing out on one of cinema's classic films.

Principle Cast Members:
Jonathan Pryce: Sam Lowry
Kim Greist: Jill Layton
Robert De Niro: Archibald ‘Harry’ Tuttle
Katherine Helmond: Mrs. Ida Lowry
Michael Palin: Jack Lint
Bob Hoskins: Spoor
Ian Holm: Mr. M. Kurtzmann

Brazil on the Internet Movie Database...

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