Waste Land

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Waste Land

PG,

2010,

1h 38m,

Documentary

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Watchlist

100%

71 Reviews

Tomatometer

90%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

71 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Located just outside Rio de Janeiro, Jardim Gramacho, Brazil, is the world's largest garbage landfill. Modern artist Vik Muniz works with the so-called *catadores*, the men and women who pick through the refuse, to create art out of recycled materials. Muniz selects six of the garbage pickers to pose as subjects in a series of photographs mimicking famous paintings. In his desire to assist the *catadores* and change their lives, Muniz finds himself changed as well.

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Critics Consensus

Waste Land begins with an eco-friendly premise, but quickly transforms into an uplifting portrait of the power of art and the dignity of the human spirit.

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David Elliott

San Diego Reader

Nov 14, 2016

3/5

With Walker and cinematographer Dudu Miranda, Muniz has a hawk's eye for the weird beauty of bulldozed hillocks of trash and the catador faces that he chose to star in photographic portraits.

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Philip French

Guardian

Feb 28, 2011

Muniz is a gifted, modest and altogether delightful man, and his project is both aesthetically fascinating and philosophically stimulating.

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Feb 25, 2011

4/5

A well-made and often uplifting film that refuses to get angry yet still manages to point out that things aren't as they should be for a great many.

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Brian D. Johnson

Maclean's Magazine

Mar 27, 2019

[Director Lucy] Walker's documentary is an eye-opening trip to a part of the world where garbage serves as liquid currency for people who salvage dignity from degradation with intelligence and grace.

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Oliver Sunley

CineVue

Mar 2, 2019

4/5

What shines through is the strength of the Brazilian landfill workers optimism and uplifting spirit which makes Waste Land more than worth watching.

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Jeffrey Overstreet

Image

Jun 12, 2012

A-

This conversion of garbage into humanitarian aid is just the beginning. Practical charity gives way to life-changing intimacy.

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Anakin L

Mar 18, 2018

Interesting look at poverty in Rio De Janeiro. Nothing stood out as spectacular about this documentary, but the photographer featured in it was pretty interesting.

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Anakin W

Jan 21, 2018

Vik Muniz, Brazilian by birth but living in the US, as he returns to Brazil to photograph the workers at the world's biggest garbage dump. The workers pick recyclables from the garbage, and the film captures their ecosystem. I found the story of the community and social and political structure that exists because of the employment opportunities fascinating. But the best part is watching the photographer create his photographs using the workers and the garbage they collect as subjects and how the film tells a richer story about the human condition. The credits indicate that the exhibition of this work in Brazil was the second most popular ever. If you enjoy these short reviews, check out my other reviews at: http://whatwouldgarysay.com/

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Ron M

Jan 11, 2011

one of the best documentaries ever made

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Lucy Walker

Director

Karen Harley

Director

João Jardim

Director

Vik Muniz

Actor

Fernando Meirelles

Executive Producer

Jackie De Botton

Executive Producer

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Synopsis

Located just outside Rio de Janeiro, Jardim Gramacho, Brazil, is the world's largest garbage landfill. Modern artist Vik Muniz works with the so-called *catadores*, the men and women who pick through the refuse, to create art out of recycled materials. Muniz selects six of the garbage pickers to pose as subjects in a series of photographs mimicking famous paintings. In his desire to assist the *catadores* and change their lives, Muniz finds himself changed as well.

Director: Lucy Walker, Karen Harley, João Jardim
Producer: Angus Aynsley
Distributor: Arthouse Films
Rating: PG
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 29, 2010, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 18, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $187.7K
Runtime: 1h 38m

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