We are
somewhere in the 20th century, society is strictly dominated by
rules and regulations. If you are behind with a payment or if you are otherwise
disobedient you will be taken by force and receive treatment to become a
perfect citizen. When the usually flawless system fails by swapping identities
of a felon named ‘Tuttle’ and an innocent guy named ‘Buttle’ the latter dies
because of heart failure during the electrical ‘treatment’.
Sam Lowry
(Jonathan Pryce) is a small part of the huge bureaucratic system. His ambition
is minimal, even though his mother keeps pushing him to make a big career, she
even organizes a promotion for him. Lowry refuses at first but changes his mind
when he meets the girl of his dreams, who was a witness in the Buttle case. In
his current position he doesn’t have the authority to get the address details
of the girl, who was not only a witness in the messed up case but is also
considered a possible terrorist. When Lowry decides to take the job in the ‘information
retrieval’ department and traces the girl he keeps seeing in his dreams, he is not only
jeopardizing his job, but even his life.
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The message
Terry Gilliam gives us is pretty obvious, but he wraps it beautifully and with
a stroke of Monty-Python-like humour. There is a scene where Lowry moves into
his new office where he is more or less sharing the amount of desk space with
his colleague who is on the other side of the wall. This is one of the many
small joys that are present (sometimes very subtle, recall a dog with two band
aids on his behind, to prevent him from ‘littering’). Another noteworthy joy
are some local kids playing in the neighbourhood. As you and I were probably
playing a soldier, cowboy or movie-hero, they are playing ‘government’, interrogating
each other and referring to the excessive use of forms, regulations and their
respective numbers and codes. Gilliam
presents a world that in its essence is not very different from ours which
makes it quite frightening and effective.
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As
mentioned earlier, this movie is predicting some interesting points for the future.
Not only is Gilliam criticizing the bureaucratic system, he also shortly pays
attention to cosmetic surgery (remember this movie is from 1985!). I also
noticed some flat computer screens, funny enough the rest of the pc equipment
was the same as in the 80’s. Last but not least the director’s view on the American
approach on how to handle terrorism suspects is more present-day than ever.
The style
of the film is both impressive and chaotic. Gilliam seems to have put all his
fantasy and imagination in the stunning sets and art direction. With linear
distortion and grim use of colours he makes the surroundings seem both distant
and claustrophobic. Unfortunately he doesn’t manage to keep his story perfectly
balanced and as a viewer it takes a bit of concentration to follow the story
entirely. Some of the battles that Lowry is having in his dreams are funny and
imaginative but at the same time somewhat overdone. Especially towards the end
Gilliam gives his viewer a lot of action and visuals that don’t really seem to help
understand the story. The final act is both as confusing as stunning.
Brazil for sure is an interesting movie that clearly
refers to Orwell’s 1984 but is not
copying it. Gilliam shapes his own creative, confusing and entertaining world
that doesn’t always serves its narrative in a strong way but surely entertains
and leaves a big impression. An instant science fiction classic.
“This is your receipt for your
husband... and this is my receipt for your receipt.”
8.5/10
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