waste land

Waste Land

Year 2010
Runtime 98 mins
Language English
Subtitles Portugese
Alberta Premiere

Filmed over nearly three years, WASTE LAND follows renowned artist Vik Muniz as he journeys from his home base in Brooklyn to his native Brazil and the world's largest garbage dump, Jardim Gramacho, located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. There he photographs an eclectic band of "catadores" -- self-designated pickers of recyclable materials. Muniz's initial objective was to "paint" the catadores with garbage. However, his collaboration with these inspiring characters as they recreate photographic images of themselves out of garbage reveals both the dignity and despair of the catadores as they begin to re-imagine their lives. Director Lucy Walker (DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND, BLINDSIGHT, COUNTDOWN TO ZERO) has great access to the entire process and, in the end, offers stirring evidence of the transformative power of art and the alchemy of the human spirit.

Countries

Brazil
Awards
Audience Award World Cinema Documentary – Sundance Film Festival 2010, Panorama Audience Award – Berlin Film Festival 2010, Audience Award – Full Frame Documentary Film Festival 2010
Festivals
Sundance 2010, Full Frame Documentary Fest 2010, Berlinale 2010
Director
Lucy Walker
Executive Producer
Fernando Meirelles, Jackie De Botton, Miel De Botton
Producer
Hank Levine, Angus Aynsley, Peter Martin
Cinematographer
Dudu Miranda
Editor
Pedro Kos
Music
Moby
Cast
Vik Muniz