Waste Land (2010)
Average Rating: 8.1/10
Reviews Counted: 68
Fresh: 68 | Rotten: 0
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.
Average Rating: 7.8/10
Critic Reviews: 17
Fresh: 17 | Rotten: 0
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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Average Rating: 4.3/5
User Ratings: 6,362
Movie Info
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" -- or 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
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All Critics (68) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (68) | Rotten (0) | DVD (1)
I do not mean to make their lives seem easy or pleasant. It is miserable work, even after they grow accustomed to the smell. But it is useful work, and I have been thinking much about the happiness to be found by work that is honest and valuable.
Top CriticIt shows us how artists find ideas and concepts for their work from the most unlikely sources, and it demonstrates the power of art to spark curiosity and cultural awareness in even the poorest, most underprivileged people.
While we await the definitive documentary about the glut of garbage, "Waste Land" reduces this global catastrophe to touchingly human scale.
It's sheer pleasure watching Muniz work -- seeing him seized by mad impulses of delight.
"Waste Land" is a testament that things can go from good to bad in an instant. But they can also improve just as quickly.
It's not a very good title, Waste Land - this isn't a bleak film, at all - but just about everything else in Lucy Walker's documentary works, and illuminates.
This conversion of garbage into humanitarian aid is just the beginning. Practical charity gives way to life-changing intimacy.
The breadth of gratitude these catadores feel towards Muniz and the life-experience they undertake makes for an intelligent, emotional movie.
Waste Land is a real treasure, the sort of heartwarming and life affirming study of people, lacking in both sentimentality and cynicism, that uplifts the audience and elevates the art form
Waste Land fuses the design concepts behind two of the most high-profile animations of recent years, Rio and the Oscar-winning Wall-E, into an essay about how hard some people are prepared to work.
The result is a film that works on multiple levels, casting light on a worldwide problem while delivering a big jolt of human hope.
Muniz is a gifted, modest and altogether delightful man, and his project is both aesthetically fascinating and philosophically stimulating.
It's inspiring, humbling and beautifully made.
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.
More self-conscious, subtle exploration than the dubious bleeding-heart PR stunt implied by its premise.
Well made and impressively structured, this is a heartwarming, genuinely inspirational and ultimately deeply moving film that has deservedly picked up an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary.
The glimpses of favela life will make you thank your lucky stars you weren't born there.
Perhaps not life-changing but certainly life-affirming.
This is undoubtedly a bold raid into an unknown territory - both geographic and conceptual - that the prosperous classes prefer not to think about.
Walker finds inspiration and strange beauty in the squalor.
As in her memorable Blindsight, in which sightless climbers took on Everest, Walker celebrates the indomitability of the human spirit.
A remarkable testament to working class lives and the unifying power of art, Waste Land is a rare thing - a film that makes you proud to be human.
Compelling and vivid, it's another fine piece of work from an up-and-coming talent.
A reminder of humanity's ability to transcend its surroundings through art or just plain optimism.
Walker's documentary is moving, life-affirming and challenges what you think you might know about these people who pick through the rubbish.
Audience Reviews for Waste Land
Super Reviewer
Magnificent
A touching documentary that truely depicts a great artist and humanitarian. I loved the movie from start to end and it moved me deeply.
Overall I highly recommend everyone to watch this movie, its amazing, and beautiful! Watch it!
Zumbi: "We have to think about the future because I don't want my son to be a picker. Although if he is, I'd be very proud... But I'd rather he be a lawyer to represent the pickers, you know."
Super Reviewer
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Foreign Titles
- Waste Land (CA)
- Wasteland (FR)
