Waste Land (2010)

An uplifting feature documentary highlighting the transformative power of art and the beauty of the human spirit. Top-selling contemporary artist Vik Muniz takes us on an emotional journey ... See full summary »

Directors:

Lucy Walker, Karen Harley,

Stars:

Vik Muniz

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 21 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Vik Muniz	...	Himself

Storyline

An uplifting feature documentary highlighting the transformative power of art and the beauty of the human spirit. Top-selling contemporary artist Vik Muniz takes us on an emotional journey from Jardim Gramacho, the world's largest landfill on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, to the heights of international art stardom. Vik collaborates with the brilliant catadores, pickers of recyclable materials, true Shakespearean characters who live and work in the garbage quoting Machiavelli and showing us how to recycle ourselves.

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Plot Keywords:

garbage | rio de janeiro brazil | landfill | creativity | visual artist | 

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Taglines:

What happens in the world's largest trash city will transform you.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Brazil UK

Language:

English Portuguese

Release Date:

21 January 2011 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

Lixo Extraordinário

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$8,656 (USA) (5 November 2010)

Gross:

$187,716 (USA) (18 March 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Almega Projects, O2 Filmes

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Valter: [talking about the importance of recycling] People sometimes say "But one single can?" One single can is of great importance. Because 99 is not 100, and that single one will make the difference.

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Connections

Featured in The 83rd Annual Academy Awards (2011)

User Reviews

Not a waste to watch

Vic Muniz's art has never been as influential as when he decided to spend 2 years at the world's largest landfill outside of Rio. The catadores or pickers became his subjects, a ragtag group of Shakespearean types who love what they do for a living, making something out of someone else's nothing. Waste land is the title for this engrossing documentary about art as few have experienced it till now.

Making a living is what they made until Muniz changed the way they looked a recyclables. He bonded the artifacts with the humans and created memorable portraits of the pickers. A show in London, which they attended, became a catalyst for change in their lives and in the lives of spectators who had no idea Rio's garbage had become Rio's recyclables under the hands of these professional pickers.

Muniz makes sure no one condescends, no one feels sorry for his subjects, some of whom have never known anything but the landfill and others who have chosen it rather than deal drugs or prostitute themselves. Waste Land is as dignified a story about the potential of the poor class to rise out of its garbage and transform it into art and a better life. For this reason, Muniz can stand with the great humanitarians like Albert Schwitzer and Mother Theresa.