Introduction"Brazil" is a dystopian satirical movie directed by Terry Gilliam in 1985. The film occurs in a securely controlled retro-futuristic society driven by omnipresent bureaucracy. While not straight pointing out the country Brazil, it refers to the tune "Aquarela do Brazil" whose tune is utilized to underline the dream series and assists signify escapism in the film.
Plot OverviewThe lead character, Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce), is a low-level civil servant who regularly dreams of rescuing a damsel in distress. His ordinary life takes a turn when he examines the wrongful arrest and subsequent death of Archibald Buttle, who was misinterpreted for Archibald Tuttle, a domestic terrorist. The mix-up occurred due to a clerical error brought on by a squashed bug in the bureaucratic device. During the investigation, Sam experiences Jill Layton (Kim Greist), a truck driver who looks similar to the lady in his dreams, and he falls in love with her.
Federal government and Resistance"Brazil" lambasts the amount of red tape and bureaucracy in federal government. This style is plainly spelt out in Sam's traumatic experiences with the system. On the other hand, Tuttle (Robert De Niro), as a rogue repairman working versus "Central Services" which manages all heating, cooling, and electrical repairs, displays the durability of the human spirit fighting the overbearing regime. Tuttle's character signifies the spirit of resistance to bureaucratic suffocation.
Escapism and FantasyOne major style seen throughout "Brazil" is the juxtaposition of Sam's brilliant, liberating visions versus his greatly controlled, bureaucratic reality. Gilliam stresses on the need for escapism in such an overbearing society. Sam dreams of being a brave winged saviour saving his dream-woman from monstrous figures, signifying his desire to break devoid of his everyday life.
ConclusionUltimately, Sam becomes a target of the government after he tries to rectify the Buttle-Tuttle mishap and pursue Jill, who is also mistakenly targeted as a terrorist. To rescue her, Sam ends up being a renegade. Eventually, he is captured and subjected to mental abuse, in the course of which he retreats into his dream world completely. This finale underlines the terrible irony of the system's victims finding freedom only in their minds.
Impact and Influence"Brazil" is admired for its satirical take on governmental society and is seen as an accurate foreshadowing of the monitoring state significantly widespread in the modern world. Gilliam's dystopia is a powerful commentary on a totalitarian world, wrapped in black humor, fantasy and ingenious visuals.
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