Review of Waste Land (2010) by Thomas W — 11 Mar 2011

The last of the five Oscar-nominated Best Documentary films I needed to see for 2010, Waste Land is probably the most uplifting and inspiring out of the five. Who knew trash could be responsible for such beauty? Waste Land follows renowned Brazilian artist, Vik Muniz, as he returns to Brazil and travels to Rio de Janeiro for inspiration on his next artistic project.

Muniz is inspired by a group of people known as Pickers -- they are a large number of people who work in the world's largest garbage dump, Jardim Gramacho. They literally pick through garbage day in and day out and it is a job many of them are ashamed to admit to having; but a Picker is a very important job to Brazil as most of the cities and their citizens neglect the importance of recycling.

A Picker doesn't sort garbage, they remove recylable materials to help (actually HELP) their communities. Muniz finds inspiration and beauty among a group of Pickers and he photographs a few of them and turns their images into spectacular murals using garbage and trash and recyclables their very hands have helped sort.

Muniz has some soul-defining revelations he shares with the camera and his art is able to make each of these subjects of his feel beautiful, important, loved and special. Seeing the character change and the value of self-worth increase for each of his new friends is truly inspiring.

They each know that sifting through trash is a job nobody in the world would want and they realize they are probaly looked down upon by most of the world; but they remind us that they could easily sell drugs or their bodies but picking our aluminum, glass and paper allows them to keep their dignity.

Waste Land is a rather remarkable watch as it reminds us and shows us where beauty comes from. The next time I hear someone complain about not having something that they "have to have", I will remember the wonderful people in this film who have less-than-nothing but continue to smile and inspire.

These are people we'd be lucky to have as friends ... If a Waste Land can be so full of love and understanding and inspiration, what is our excuse?