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(1985) |
t's British comedy meets Orwellian totalitarian society in former Monty Python member Terry Gilliam's surreal vision of dreams, government, and illegal plumbing.
Add to this already clustered mix a heapin' helping of dark comedy and you have one of the best and most creative films of the 80's.
Jonathan Pryce stars as Sam Lowry, a lowly civil cervant for the ever ineffective beaurocracy, who spends too much time thinking about the woman of his dreams, flying among the clouds, and classic Hollywood cinema to efficiently perform his job. However, Sam serendipitously stumbles upon a crucial clerical error which resulted in a warrant being issued for one Harry Buttle, instead of the outlaw heating and plumbing engineer Harry Tuttle (played by an especially wacky Robert De Niro), leading Sam to attempt to rectify this injustice.
Unfortunately for Sam, this seemingly simple correction turns out to be a huge undertaking beyond his means. The totalitarian government is an inefficient mish-mash of paperwork and self-important yahoos who are unreceptive to visits and even less receptive to corrections, thus Sam finds no assistance from the powers that be. Sam has another, more personal, attribute also working against him; this being that he is prone to sacrifice efficiency for escapism to a world where he soars with a beautiful woman and battles a huge metallic samurai.
Nevertheless, Sam forges ahead and on a visit to the remainder of the Buttle family finds himself at another roadblock. He discovers that the Buttle's upstairs neighbor just so happens to be the woman of his dreams, Jill (Kim Greist), a woman who is also a suspected terrorist.
Sam must then balance his quest for justice with his quest for the woman of his dreams, the latter of which makes him a suspected terrorist. We then find Sam on the wrong side of the law, seeking help from a stubborn Jill and wacky Harry Tuttle, as well as a whole host of other strange individuals of varying position and helpfulness.
Can Sam keep the government at bay long enough to right the aforementioned wrong, all the while convincing Jill that they are destined to be together? The answer might be a matter of the ever blurring line between dreams and reality, and the confidence to overcome.
Brazil is not your usual world, Brazil is filled with "Big Brother"-like television intrusion, wild machinery, and thick unsympathetic British accents; a world not to be missed...
 Don't forget that Brazil is now available to order on Widescreen DVD using our special 80s Retro Assistant...
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Both a cult and a critical favorite, Brazil is a film that takes a few viewings to grasp and, eventually, appreciate. It's stunning, nightmarish view of the future provides a beautiful challenge for Gilliam's knack for unique visual style, as well as a nice juxtaposition for his unusual sense of humor.
Impossible to contain within genres or summaries, Brazil is a film I discovered only recently (which may be a good thing, because it could have been a difficult one to follow at age 2), but has quickly become a personal favorite.
A must-see for fans of Monty Python's Flying Circus, science fiction, fantasy, and dark comedy.
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Many of the characters names are in-jokes or references by Gilliam:
-Mr. Kurtzmann: Kurtzmann is German for "short in stature and success". Kurtzmann is played by famed short actor Ian Holm who played an inferiority complex-suffering Napoleon, obsessed with height in Gilliam's "Time Bandits". Kurtzmann is also the name of the editor of "Help" magazine, where Gilliam worked in the 60's.
-Mr. Helpmann: Helpmann is the only government character who "helps" Sam.
-Mr. Warrenn: A "warren" is a mazelike overcrowded area where rabbits live, which describes the place where Mr. Warrenn works.
-Harvey Lime: Likely a reference to Orson Welles' Harry Lime from "The Third Man", another movie involving a man on the run from the government. 
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Voted Best Picture by the LA Film Critics Association. Often considered a key miss by the Academy Awards, although it did receive a writing nomination.
Gorden Kaye is the M.O.I. Lobby Porter, he was also the star of British show "Allo Allo". -Thanks to Robert Bleier
The climax of the film bears several striking similarities to the classic 20's film "Battleship Potemkin".
Brazil was known to be River Phoenix's favorite film; Phoenix had supposedly arranged, through co-star Jonathan Pryce, to meet Gilliam and Pryce just days following his death.
The printing technician who causes the fatal typing error is Ray Cooper, famed percussionist for folks like Elton John.
Sam's father's code, given to Sam by Mr. Helpmann in order to access Helpmann's office by the elevator is ERE I AM JH. This is an anagram for Sam's father's name, JEREMIAH.
A creepy mask resembling a baby's face appears throughout the film, most notably worn by Michael Palin's character near the end. Terry Gilliam based this mask on an actual mask that his mother sent him once, and which has always given him the creeps.
Terry Gilliam himself makes a small cameo appearance in the film. He is one of the lurking black-clad government spooks in the Shangri-La Towers. He bumps into Sam and coughs up some cigarette smoke during the scenes in the Shangri-La Towers.
Terry Gilliam's daughter Holly Gilliam appears briefly in the film, playing the daughter of Jack Lint (Michael Palin's character). Her character is also named Holly in the film. -Thanks to V. KräTke
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Rediscover your favorites! If you like
Brazil or 80's Sci-Fi / Fantasy classics, then be sure to
check out this list: ..... Empire Strikes Back ..... Night of the Comet ..... Aliens ..... Back To The Future ..... Last Starfighter ..... Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ..... Circuitry Man ..... Blade Runner ..... Thing ..... Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan ..... Return to Oz ..... Starman ..... Somewhere In Time ..... Strange Invaders ..... Short Circuit .....[More]
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Co-written by Oscar award-winning writer Tom Stoppard ("Shakespeare in Love") who is also a famed playwright ("Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead").
Among the actresses considered for the role of Jill were: Ellen Barkin, Madonna, Rebecca De Mornay, Kelly McGillis, Jamie Lee Curtis, Joanna Pacula, Rae Dawn Chong, and Rosanna Arquette. Gilliam reportedly preferred Barkin.
Robert De Niro wanted to play the role of the torturer, Jack, but this role had been promised to fellow Monty Python alumnus Michael Palin. De Niro was subsequently cast as Harry.
When the part of Sam was written, it was written especially for Jonathan Pryce who at his time was in his late 20's or early 30's. However, by the time the film was actually made Pryce was approaching 40 and the part was, therefore, "reworked".
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|  |  |  | | Brazil
Locations |
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Filming Locations for Brazil include Croydon, Cumbria and London in the UK as well as Marne-la-Vallée, Seine-et-Marne and Ile-de-France in France.
The scenes outside the main character's home were shot not far from Paris in a public housing residence noted for it's beautiful neo-clasical exterior but in reality is plagued by internal electrical, plumbing and structural problems. A must-see when visiting Paris. [Thanks to Njon Vosco]
Can you help? Do you know any of the UK (or any other) filming locations used for Brazil? [Please send them in]
|  | | | | ![[16:9 -Widescreen Enhanced]](16_9.gif) | ![[5.1 CH SURROUND]](dd5.gif) | Trailer, Commentary, Featurette, OutTakes |
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Comments: New 3 disc Criterion Edition |
| | | | Trailer, Featurette |
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The film features a great soundtrack, although not the typical 80's pop soundtrack by any means.
If you like the film, you'll love the soundtrack.
The theme song from this movie is from a 1944 film also titled Brazil.
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Soundtrack Available:
On CD
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