Tom Padanilam
3/11/13
676107038
It’s Only a State of Mind
The 1980’s saw an emergence of more politically, socially, and economically conscious films. This is very apparent in Terry Gilliam’s film, Brazil, which portrays a dystopian, futuristic society that is dominated by a totalitarian government. I believe that Gilliam’s use of intertexuality, mise-en-scene, storytelling, and subversive depiction of society is what makes Brazil a cult film. The plot revolves around Sam Lowry, a low-level government employee who often dreams about being a hero, escaping reality, and saving a beautiful woman. One day he finds a woman who looks identical to the one in his dreams, but she is an alleged rebel and wanted by the government. Sam tries to flee with her, but through a series of obscure twists and turns he ends up losing her and his own sanity.
There are numerous similarities and references to George Orwell’s 1984 in Brazil. Both are set in a futuristic setting as imagined by people living in earlier periods, both feature a totalitarian government that reigns over its people, and as a result of the government a nightmarish dystopian society is created. It is also important to note that the two also offer no possibility of society changing or improving in any way. However, Orwell shows the physical and emotional effects of a totalitarian government, while Gilliam focuses his critique on the mindless consumerist society it produces. There are also various cinematic references that can be seen in Brazil. Besides the Casablanca quote, a lot of the cinematography reminded me of Stanley Kubrick’s movies, and the setting is reminiscent of Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner.
Brazil combines an interesting mix of film noir, science fiction, and fantasy to create a unique setting, which adds greatly to the message behind the film. The costumes used in Brazil are similar to costumes