Waste Land is released in Australian cinemas today, 01/12/2011. I first saw this award-winning documentary at the 2010 Sydney Film Festival and fell pretty hard for the film’s subjects, the pickers at Brazil’s largest landfill site- Jardim Gramacho. I recently re-watched Waste Land and on second viewing I was just as enthralled and inspired by the hidden world that filmmaker Lucy Walker captures and the questions this film raises about the value of art.
Here is a reprint of my review from 2010;
This documentary from Lucy Walker (The Devil’s Playground) and co-directors João Jardim and Karen Harley follows renowned Brazilian artist, Vik Muniz as he returns to Brazil from his adopted base of NYC. Having found success and financial security in the States, Muniz has come to a point in his life where he wants to give back. The place he chooses to start is in Jardim Gramacho on the outskirts of Rio de Janerio, where 3000 people work as pickers/catadores on the largest landfill in South America. Stigmatised by the type of work they do, the pickers have developed their own community around what is the vital role of sorting recyclables from the 7000 tonnes of daily waste. Trapped by poverty, for most this is a job they have held since childhood, and the only viable alternative to the drugs trade and/or prostitution.
At the beginning of the film Muniz asks if someone’s life can be transformed through art. The journey this documentary takes in answering this question is both inspiring and compassionate, highlighting the strength of the human spirit and the potential beauty of the things society throws away- both people and garbage. The relationships that develop between Muniz and the chosen pickers for his art project, far exceeds superficial tags of artist/subject and benefactor/ recipient, making this film a joy to watch.
Waste Land introduces us to some of the catadores who participant in Muniz’ mix media project, these fantastic characters include; Jião, the passionate president and founder of the ACAMJG (The Association for the Pickers of Jardim Gramacho), Isis the cheeky beauty with a flair for fashion, Zumbi who is trying to start a community library with the books he salvages, and the stunning mother of two, 18 year old Suelem. The film peeps into their lives by invitation and the filmmakers don’t outstay their welcome.
Covering topics from concepts of modern art to environmental concerns, Waste Land, with its exquisite highs and lows, is a story made to be told by documentary. This truly wonderful film is not to be missed.
Waste Land is released in Australian cinemas on December 1st
Directors: Lucy Walker, João Jardim and Karen Harley
