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Brazil

Started by benryves 2 replies 400+ views
Original Post
benryves
benryves
This is a brilliant film, for those who haven't seen it. And for those who have, I'm sure you find it just as relevant and fresh today as it did almost 20 years ago when it came out. One thing I'm trying to clarify is the take on cosmetic surgery put across by the film. In the final nightmare sequence you have the two fairly shocking images, one of his mother appearing far younger (and scarily like Jill, adding to the shock-factor); and also of the skinless body of the other lady who visited the "acid man" for her treatment. What exactly is Gilliam try to show here? I'm taking this as whereas there might be an apparant immediate improvement in the way people act and make themselves appear - not just in a physical appearance - portrayed by the mother, it will at the same time totally destroy you - or your individuality? I also notice, quite clearly, that in Sam's nightmare in the concrete 'maze' is a pile of rubble, in which is a blue neon lamp in the shape of a Christian cross. Is this relevant, does it have a meaning, or is it just part of the set? Something else I'm interested in is the USA version; I've seen the UK edition that starts with a shot of a shop displaying televisions advertising the ducts of "Central Services" being blown up and ends on a long shot of a comfortably numb Sam Lowry in the torture seat - apparantly the USA version starts and ends differently. Maybe it reveals more... or confuses it more, I'm not sure. Basically; am I reading too far into this film? Do you think it's still relevant today?
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superpig
superpig
Heh. I watched this just a few days ago [smile]

The thing with Mrs Terrain isn't so much the final effect, I think - it's more the path she takes to get there. "My complication had a complication," she says, as she signs up for more self-destruction in the name of self-improvement. I reckon all he was getting at was the absurdity of it; death is just the natural (and predictable) conclusion of the idea.

I'm told the US version of the film doesn't have the scene with whatshisname telling Lowry about Jill's second death. I also wonder if it doesn't have the shot of Lowry in the chair at the end, leaving it with the pair of them driving off into the hills of Cumbria...

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benryves
benryves
Quote:
Original post by superpig
I'm told the US version of the film doesn't have the scene with whatshisname telling Lowry about Jill's second death. I also wonder if it doesn't have the shot of Lowry in the chair at the end, leaving it with the pair of them driving off into the hills of Cumbria...

Whatta? The end of the film would make very little sense without that in there, and is far too fluffy and happy [grin].
So, you don't feel that Mrs Terrain and Mrs Lowry are meant to be seen as the two paths that someone might take? Your take on it does make sense (if anything in that film can be taken to be sensible at all).
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superpig
superpig
Quote:
Original post by benryves
Whatta? The end of the film would make very little sense without that in there, and is far too fluffy and happy [grin].
Precisely. Solid family viewing! [wink]

Quote:
So, you don't feel that Mrs Terrain and Mrs Lowry are meant to be seen as the two paths that someone might take?
Weeelllll... I think characterizing them as 'the two paths' is a bad idea, not least because there's a third path, which would be taking neither. They're certainly contradictory paths, but I think that all Gilliam was really aiming for there was symmetry of concept, as it were.

There is, of course, the satire in the whole beauty treatment thing anyway. But that's so obvious it's hardly worth commenting on. [smile]

Quote:
Your take on it does make sense (if anything in that film can be taken to be sensible at all).
With Gilliam? A shaky stance, agreed [grin]
Richard "Superpig" Fine - saving pigs from untimely fates - Microsoft DirectX MVP 2006/2007/2008/2009
"Shaders are not meant to do everything. Of course you can try to use it for everything, but it's like playing football using cabbage." - MickeyMouse

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