FIGHTING ABSURDITY

BRAZIL

(1985)

Director: Terry Gilliam

To criticize the society of today, or the one of 1985, is not easy. It has always been difficult to  accentuate flaws of the society. Authors of written observations about the world and its defects, usually use the same trick to avoid assaults. They travel in time. They either place events in the past, or in the future. Terry Gilliam chose the latter one. 

Gilliam's Brazil exquisitely distinguishes terrible shortcomings of the society giving emphasis on timeless stupidity and extremely ineffective bureaucracy.

BUREAUCRACY

"This is your receipt for your husband... and this is my receipt for your receipt."

The plot of the movie is focused on a highly inefficient and ultimately dangerous bureaucratic system and it effects on people. The plot is concentrated around the event where a simple and rather stupid mistake ruins several and fundamentally changes some lives. The world of Brazil is the one where money is spent on ministries which are end in itself, where every home device is automatic but nothing really works, where guards are dressed like SS troops and people are just numbers. 

THE IDIOCY OF SNOBBERY 

"There's been a little complication with my complication."

The stupidity and falsity of high society is perfectly depicted through protagonist's (Sam Lowry) mother and her cosmetic surgeries. The peak of stupidity is the celebration of her latest operation.

The same is skilfully represented in the dinner scene. The dinner is held in a supposedly luxurious restaurant where  all allegedly fine meals are just swills. Just like the people who go there. 

FANTASIES

The movie is intertwined with protagonist's fantasies about a lady of his dreams. He tries to rescue her, his captive princess. On the way he fights giant samurai, 'zombie-hunchback-children', freaks. All of these represent different officials, SWAT team, and other problems which he encounters. 

TUTTLE THE RENEGADE

Archibald Harry Tuttle, apostatized heating engineer, helps the protagonist and impersonates the other side of the society. The ones which fight against the stupidity of bureaucracy. Tuttle is represented as an 'Air Condition Batman', an outcast, fighting for the right cause and always leaving theatrically. 

 The world of Brazil is a combination of Kafka's Trial, Orwell's 1984, and, sadly, our reality.