The visuals overall are insane. I think, the fight with the samurai is one of the things I will never get out of my mind. Also, his office table that he shares with the other office... :)
Interesting to know there was a “Brasil” so to say it’s perfect! I lived that movie and Terry Gilliam but always felt awful that he didn’t do much more and better movies -- I felt 12 Monkeys and a few others were too much in love with themselves and not actually good -- I have that problem with a lot of directors who focus more on visuals than on story -- breaks my heart
I largely enjoy Gilliam, although I agree about "in love with themselves" part. To me, Gilliam is more visual than narrative master. Still, "Tideland" or "Fisher King" are very strong narratively as well. I even enjoyed his last movie, "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote", even though it was kinda mocked by critics.
I was completely looking forward to Don Quixote, but then when I saw the previews and read a few reviews I couldn't bring myself to do it. but if you recommend it, I might try it. And yes, I really love the visuals of these guys, but at the same time ...
It is not Gilliam's best movie; far from it. It could have used some trimming. But Jonathan Pryce is exceptional in it (apropos Brasil), and the plot is... at least, surprising. We watched it in the Babylon cinema, when it just came out, and the experience was great.
I was completely looking forward to Don Quixote, but then when I saw the previews and read a few reviews I couldn't bring myself to do it. but if you recommend it, I might try it. And yes, I really love the visuals of these guys, but at the same time ...
Like the girl from Ipanema. The music so deliciously telling you that that (who in this case) you long for so badly just isn’t for you.
I read a few years ago the book Imperium (Kapuściński). In one chapter of the book he described how some people huddled around a radio? TV? Magazine? Showing goods people in the west had access to and their response to it was something in the lines of ”we are not made for these things”. How human we are, always inventing a better world for ourselves and never quite getting there.
Never watched the film, possibly will not in the near future, I have very low tolerance for frustration these days, specially when it comes to my meagre free time… so I watch Bingo and Bluey… that’s my Brasil.
I am not convinced the Irish map isn't just a mangling of the at the time very recent discovery of Brazil. The name is like 40 years old at that point, and could easily just have been misunderstood game of telephone or abstract representation of some vague knowledge of it.
Valid point, but the first appearances of an island called Brasil near the shores of Ireland were recorded as early as the 14th century. I chose the map I chose for aesthetics and clarity rather than age.
This is one of the few films I actually own on Blu Ray, but it's been so long since I've seen it I remember it more as a general impression than with any specific detail now. I'm definitely due a rewatch. And that detail about the mythical island of Brasil on Irish maps is fascinating.
This was fascinating! I saw Brazil in a grand old art house theater in Chicago when it came out. Unfortunately we were late and had to sit in the front row. Not recommended! Especially for this movie! My main memories are how loud it was, how strange, and the scenes with his mother and her plastic surgery (ewwwwww!!).
"1984 1/2", huh?
Well, the timing was right...
I've never sailed the Amazon,
I've never reached Brazil;
But the Don and Magdalena,
They can go there when they will!
https://youtu.be/UVZoYmXLcFU?si=LDgiS5Tf3RIjnz4R
Только Дон и Магдалина
Только Дон и Магдалина
Только Дон и Магдалина
Ходят по морю туда
That's a song of my childhood, we had it on vinyl... But I think, for Kipling, it was more an ambition than a dream.
https://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poem/poems_amazon.htm
Being poor students, we, of course, re-wrote it:
Из Ливерпульской гавани всегда по четвергам
Суда уходят в плаванье к далеким берегам.
Плывут они в Бразилию, Бразилию, Бразилию,
И я туда хочу, но не выходит по деньгам.
One of the most memorable scenes is when they drill a hole in the apartment ceiling…
The visuals overall are insane. I think, the fight with the samurai is one of the things I will never get out of my mind. Also, his office table that he shares with the other office... :)
Interesting to know there was a “Brasil” so to say it’s perfect! I lived that movie and Terry Gilliam but always felt awful that he didn’t do much more and better movies -- I felt 12 Monkeys and a few others were too much in love with themselves and not actually good -- I have that problem with a lot of directors who focus more on visuals than on story -- breaks my heart
I largely enjoy Gilliam, although I agree about "in love with themselves" part. To me, Gilliam is more visual than narrative master. Still, "Tideland" or "Fisher King" are very strong narratively as well. I even enjoyed his last movie, "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote", even though it was kinda mocked by critics.
I was completely looking forward to Don Quixote, but then when I saw the previews and read a few reviews I couldn't bring myself to do it. but if you recommend it, I might try it. And yes, I really love the visuals of these guys, but at the same time ...
It is not Gilliam's best movie; far from it. It could have used some trimming. But Jonathan Pryce is exceptional in it (apropos Brasil), and the plot is... at least, surprising. We watched it in the Babylon cinema, when it just came out, and the experience was great.
I was completely looking forward to Don Quixote, but then when I saw the previews and read a few reviews I couldn't bring myself to do it. but if you recommend it, I might try it. And yes, I really love the visuals of these guys, but at the same time ...
Like the girl from Ipanema. The music so deliciously telling you that that (who in this case) you long for so badly just isn’t for you.
I read a few years ago the book Imperium (Kapuściński). In one chapter of the book he described how some people huddled around a radio? TV? Magazine? Showing goods people in the west had access to and their response to it was something in the lines of ”we are not made for these things”. How human we are, always inventing a better world for ourselves and never quite getting there.
Never watched the film, possibly will not in the near future, I have very low tolerance for frustration these days, specially when it comes to my meagre free time… so I watch Bingo and Bluey… that’s my Brasil.
Lovely read, as always.
Thanks!
It can be a frustrating experience, at least at first.
I am not convinced the Irish map isn't just a mangling of the at the time very recent discovery of Brazil. The name is like 40 years old at that point, and could easily just have been misunderstood game of telephone or abstract representation of some vague knowledge of it.
Valid point, but the first appearances of an island called Brasil near the shores of Ireland were recorded as early as the 14th century. I chose the map I chose for aesthetics and clarity rather than age.
This is one of the few films I actually own on Blu Ray, but it's been so long since I've seen it I remember it more as a general impression than with any specific detail now. I'm definitely due a rewatch. And that detail about the mythical island of Brasil on Irish maps is fascinating.
Thanks, Jacob, and thanks for subscribing!
No problem, I had a sneaking suspicion from the name of this Substack that I was going to enjoy it.
Thanks!
This was fascinating! I saw Brazil in a grand old art house theater in Chicago when it came out. Unfortunately we were late and had to sit in the front row. Not recommended! Especially for this movie! My main memories are how loud it was, how strange, and the scenes with his mother and her plastic surgery (ewwwwww!!).
Thanks! Yeah, the movie is visceral, but I think it really knows what it's doing. Front row is probably extreme, though :)