Run, do not walk, to see this movie!
How often have you read that tag in a film ad? Well we're here to tell you that we just saw this documentary and really, you have to run, not walk, to see it. If you can. Unfortunately it is not yet in wide distribution, but please keep your eyes peeled- should it come to a screen near you, DO NOT miss it!
All photos in this post courtesy www.wastelandmovie.com
This story of the transformative power of art comes hot on the heels of a couple of recent super-large scale urban art projects in Rio de Janeiro: Favela Painting (which we featured here), and the Women project by incognito French street artist JR, who recently won the prestigious TED prize for 2011.
Waste Land was a project undertaken a few years ago by Brooklyn-based Brazilian ex-pat Vik Muniz (here's a brief bio and here's a great article about him from the New York Times). Having been raised poor himself, and having achieved the comfort to go out and get for himself pretty much anything he could desire, he decided it was time to give back. But his goal wasn't just to give in a monetary sense, although a financial payoff enters into the picture, but to be able to "teach a man to fish" in the words of the old saying. His oeuvre being the production of transient artworks made from unusual materials which are then photographed, he hatched the idea of using garbage as his medium. (Actually "garbage" is a misnomer as the film's protagonists will clearly point out). This beautiful documentary by talented British film maker Lucy Walker tracks Muniz as he and his Rio-based "on-the-ground" assistant Fabio hatch the plan for the project and end up becoming immersed in the lives they are documenting.
The team travels to the euphemistically named Jardim Gramacho, the world's most heavily used landfill, where a community of Catadores, or "pickers", scavenge the trash for recyclables. They become enchanted by the dignity and wisdom of these people who society considers as disposable as the refuse they help re-purpose. We'll leave it at that- you really have to see this film! (Be sure to bring your Kleenex)How often have you read that tag in a film ad? Well we're here to tell you that we just saw this documentary and really, you have to run, not walk, to see it. If you can. Unfortunately it is not yet in wide distribution, but please keep your eyes peeled- should it come to a screen near you, DO NOT miss it!
All photos in this post courtesy www.wastelandmovie.com
This story of the transformative power of art comes hot on the heels of a couple of recent super-large scale urban art projects in Rio de Janeiro: Favela Painting (which we featured here), and the Women project by incognito French street artist JR, who recently won the prestigious TED prize for 2011.
Waste Land was a project undertaken a few years ago by Brooklyn-based Brazilian ex-pat Vik Muniz (here's a brief bio and here's a great article about him from the New York Times). Having been raised poor himself, and having achieved the comfort to go out and get for himself pretty much anything he could desire, he decided it was time to give back. But his goal wasn't just to give in a monetary sense, although a financial payoff enters into the picture, but to be able to "teach a man to fish" in the words of the old saying. His oeuvre being the production of transient artworks made from unusual materials which are then photographed, he hatched the idea of using garbage as his medium. (Actually "garbage" is a misnomer as the film's protagonists will clearly point out). This beautiful documentary by talented British film maker Lucy Walker tracks Muniz as he and his Rio-based "on-the-ground" assistant Fabio hatch the plan for the project and end up becoming immersed in the lives they are documenting.
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Here in Toronto the film will be shown for an exclusive engagement at the TIFF Bell Lightbox beginning on Thursday November 25th.
*****
And here's the trailer:
(best if you expand to full screen after opening)
WASTE LAND Official Trailer from Almega Projects on Vimeo.
(best if you expand to full screen after opening)
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