June 24, 2004

Gilliam's Brazil as Reality TV

Aaron Swartz makes some interesting (and perhaps inevitable) comparisons between Terry Gilliam's Brazil and the world around us today:

Terry Gilliam’s Brazil is probably my favorite film. It has soaring visuals by Terry Gilliam. It has beautiful writing by Tom Stoppard. It has action, plot twists, a vast scope, great depth, and a subversive message. It has beautiful dances of office life and a great soundtrack. But it is a serious film. And if there were ever a time to watch it, it is now; it’s all happening to us (all links go to real news stories):

Complex technology does not work.

Instead of eliminating cruft, we sell it in different colors.

Terrorists (terrorists?) run around blowing things up.

A completely wrong man is arrested because of a smudge.

More connections at Swartz's blog, as well as summaries of some of the incredible extra features on the Criterion Collection box set [amazon link--$50, but well worth it].

[via Aaron Swartz] Posted by johndan at June 24, 2004 01:30 PM | TrackBack