This documentary features garbage pickers at Rio’s ‘Jardim Gramancho’, the world’s largest rubbish dump. The backbone of the story is provided by Brazilian modern artist Vik Muniz, as he attempts to give something back to his home country by collaborating with some of Jardim Gramancho’s residents. Vik himself grew up in the slums of Brazil and so there is an air of guilt surrounding those still living in such poor conditions. His intentions are good, but he’s equally pessimistic about their potential state of minds when he eventually leaves; a few months of a transformed life might make it impossible to go back to trawling through rubbish for survival.
There are many celebrated people in modern society who have come from poor backgrounds, and through a lucky break in their career, have ‘everything’. This can include sports stars, actors, comedians...anyone. Do they feel bad about who or what they have left behind? I don’t think so, and those that do can set up or donate to charities. If it was me, I wouldn’t think twice about my past; I am proud of everything I’ve achieved, and rightly so in my opinion.
Regarding the post-project states of minds of the rubbish pickers, as the film is being distributed around more and more parts of the world, the characters are growing in popularity and they have been given opportunities to travel the world and even be interviewed on television chat shows! If it were me I think I’d be happy to have been given the opportunity to take part in something so inspiring, even had it meant facing work for a few months after seemed like hell.
There are many celebrated people in modern society who have come from poor backgrounds, and through a lucky break in their career, have ‘everything’. This can include sports stars, actors, comedians...anyone. Do they feel bad about who or what they have left behind? I don’t think so, and those that do can set up or donate to charities. If it was me, I wouldn’t think twice about my past; I am proud of everything I’ve achieved, and rightly so in my opinion.
Regarding the post-project states of minds of the rubbish pickers, as the film is being distributed around more and more parts of the world, the characters are growing in popularity and they have been given opportunities to travel the world and even be interviewed on television chat shows! If it were me I think I’d be happy to have been given the opportunity to take part in something so inspiring, even had it meant facing work for a few months after seemed like hell.
"The-Not-So-Silent-Observer"
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