Brazil, 1985. Terry Gilliam.

I recently watched the dystopian dark comedy film Brazil and it completely blew my mind. It’s refreshing to see so much creativity in one film alone. However, this is not my first time on this rodeo, and the first viewing didn’t come across so well. So, why has so much changed for me between those two viewings? I guess there are a lot of new and creative movies still made today if you are willing to go and find them, but Brazil was created for the masses, and I’m not sure an undertaking of such magnitude could ever happen again. My first interaction and disappointment with Brazil could be down to my lack of imagination, immaturity or the fact I simply wasn’t in the right frame of mind to understand it. However, there are a few other reasons that do come to mind, and I just wanted to take a look at them today. Brazil has left me feeling like my imagination has exploded like an atomic bomb. So, please join me as I try to find some meaning in the debris that has been shattered by the blast.

Let’s start by getting the formalities out of the way. Brazil was directed and co-written by Terry Gilliam, who was one of the members of Monty Python and a fantastic filmmaker. However, it was his collage animations that first caught my eye and gave The Monty Python’s Flying Circus its distinctive flavour that set it apart from others in the sixties, and even today. The movie was written by Gilliam, Charles McKeown, and Tom Stoppard, who all worked together in perfect harmony, allegedly! The film stars Jonathan Pryce and features Robert De Niro, Kim Griest, Michael Palin, Katherine Helmond, Ian Holm, and the legendary Bob Hoskins. Like many great films, Brazil was well-received in Europe but failed at the box office upon its North American release. Nonetheless, cult classics are better than that, and in 2017, the British Film Institute ranked Brazil as the 54th greatest British film of all time.

Time and time again, with many of the films that I watch, the main theme I notice is that vast amounts of money and large movie productions do not always equal success. It’s a modest budget and a desperation to finish a film that ultimately leads to its cult-like status. Don’t get me wrong, a modern blockbuster will make its money back and then some, but will we be discussing the struggles and anxieties behind the scenes for years to come? As a child, I viewed movies as pure decadence and fortune, a playground with the unlimited freedom to create whatever you want. However, as an adult, I find film-making far more intriguing. Brazil seems to be one of those movies filled with production troubles and chaos, and I cannot wait to read more about “The Most Spectacular Title Bout in the Blood-Soaked History of Hollywood”.

Today, I will be discussing my thoughts on my second viewing of the film and why Brazil has suddenly caught my attention again. The plot is pretty intriguing, and as a disgruntled forty-something-year-old man, it fits in well with my distaste for bureaucracy and the absurdity of life. I was surprised to hear that Terry Gilliam had never read Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell before writing this script, as it seems like a love letter to that book. Maybe Orwell’s vision of the future was already stained into the fabric of society by then! “Big Brother is Watching You” is a quote used a lot in modern society by many Winston Smiths who have no recollection of the protagonist’s sufferings. Sam Lowry, however, is far more relatable to the current climate of modern living. Mind-numbing job, tiny apartments and enough paperwork and red tape to last a lifetime? Say no more, and welcome to England. Okay, this may be a slight exaggeration, but anyone can share my pain that have experienced visiting a local council tax office, and pick up their tiny little ticket, which will bring nothing but boredom and anxiety for the next three or four hours if you are lucky.

Sam Lowry’s character is well-written. A low-ranking bureaucrat who longs for the woman of his dreams. We all need dreams to keep us going, and the simplicity of that message is not lost on me. However, flying around as a winged warrior while saving a damsel in distress has not entered my dream state just yet. The story is fast-paced, funny and absurd in every way possible. I think the series of unfortunate events and happy accidents only add to the dreamlike quality of the story, which only makes the ending more poignant. I am still not sure I get the ending just yet, but I reckon there will be someone somewhere saying, it’s all about the price of tea bags after the First World War or the invention of concrete, but I can’t commit to any bold claims like that, just yet.

The greatest achievement and most enjoyable experience of Brazil is the imagination and creativity to make a film that looks truly breathtaking. Gilliam is a unique artist, and his style is his alone. But I am curious to learn how many other artists, model-makers and all-around talented individuals helped to create this film. As much as I hate bureaucracy, I love the creative side of humanity, watching ideas and wonderment coincide with each other. I am also guessing that the journey wasn’t as fun as it seemed to be and maybe a few hours in a tax office would have been a welcome relief for some of the film crew. However, they created a work of art for all the World to see for many years to come. The soundtrack by Michael Kamen is equally delicious with its grandiose themes,  jazzy vibes and wonderful ducts. Brazil is a perfect piece satire for the times, comedic, fantastical and the type of dark science-fiction that I adore. It’s refreshing, it’s unique, and everything Hollywood seems to have lost along the way, which finally brings me to my conclusion.

So, it all comes down to my question of why my second viewing of the film was so significant. Maybe, my first answer is pretty basic, but that is the advancement of technology. I feel pretty sure the first time I watched Brazil was on VHS, and I feel like that format could never give this film the recognition it deserves. Right now, I can watch the movie on a 50-inch television in high definition, and it looks glorious, leaving each scene looking like an oil painting, crisp, clean and clear. You always know you’re in for a treat if your movie has Robert De Nero on the cast list. However, it was Bob Hoskins who brought a smile to my face as he appeared on the screen. What a great actor he was and a character you don’t see anymore, anywhere, in any walk of life. A proper geezer, know what I mean! I think the cast for Brazil was pretty flawless, and Michael Palin had the Patrick Bateman vibe down before American Psycho was even a thing. As much as the film is set in the future, you can still see old Blighty, and it made me realise how much England has changed in so little time. Still, Gilliam has this aesthetic where the characters almost feel like they descend from the sixties era, tank tops in tow. I could go on and on about so many little treats this film has to offer but my final reason is the most important one.

I have always admired and enjoyed Monty Python’s Flying Circus. But I am only now beginning to understand how important it is to me and also in popular culture. The television show and the movies elevated the troupe to worldwide fame, but as individuals, the standards never slipped. It is easy to say The Beatles are Britain’s most successful export, but I feel like the Python’s must be among them. Okay, I know Gilliam is an American, but everything about him screams British culture. Over the last couple of years, I have been going back and watching all their work in chronological order. Jabberwocky, maybe you need a second viewing sometime soon! However, it is all resonating with me now more than ever. When did we forget that taking the piss out of ourselves, each other, and society was pretty funny? When did we all become oh so serious? I’m not here to lecture anybody about my views because you should have your own principles and own them. However, just like in Brazil, society is raising its sticks on both sides and trying to teach you right from wrong, and I think it’s funnier than any Monty Python sketch I have seen. I want to enjoy the creative side of life in art, books, movies and music. It’s all pretty simple stuff, but it works for me. Maybe one day I will move to Slab City and smoke some cigars, but in reality, I will be clocking in shortly for another long shift in the dark pit of life. “Hoorah for the dream! Hoorah for the Beatles! Hoorah for Brazil!”

Thank you for visiting today. I loved watching Brazil and can’t wait to learn more about its creation. However, I would love to know what you like about the film or Terry Gilliam. Please leave a comment below and share your stories. Also, like, share or subscribe if you would like to see what comes next on my site. Adios, for now.