**MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS** One of the finest satires of our time brought to fruition by one of the greatest cinematic geniuses of our time, Gilliam's BRAZIL mocks the inefficiency, inadequacy and ultimate injustice of the world that humans have made for themselves. Paranoia and suspicion have become the passport to survival. The person who questions this state of affairs and attempts to change the system for the better becomes an enemy of the state. In fact, this person is his own worst nightmare as symbolized by the revelation of the Samurai's identity. What hope does a sane and caring human have for surviving in this world? Hence Sam's repeated (and futile) attempts to break free and soar far above this reality - if only in his imagination. In his ethereal make believe world he can transcend the grotesque reality of his dingy life and live happily ever after with the woman of his dreams, literally. And perhaps, if one views the situation in the same grotesque, hopeless way Sam does, one could very well agree that his ultimate madness / lobotomy was the only way he could attain the life that he so desperately sought..... " I don't dream any more .....". A very pessimistic prospect indeed but that's the way it goes. And, would we find this film so depressing if we didn't identify with Sam's plight, even a little bit? I wonder ......would Mr. Gilliam agree with my interpretation of his opus? Signed, Tuttle. No. Wait, I meant Buttle.
Review of Brazil
