SPOILER ALERT

Terry Gilliam is a director who is able to distinguish himself from the crowd through the themes he chooses and the way he portrays them. While his films may not be universally appreciated, he has developed a devoted fan following over the years. I am a huge fan of him and one of his best films in my opinion is Brazil. In simple terms, it can be described as a satiric take on George Orwell’s 1984 but there are many other elements that are explored in the film that make it an absolute delight. These range from consumerism to inept bureaucrats. One of the chief aspects that Gilliam explores is just how much better it is to be in a dream like state rather than suffer in reality.

We see our protagonist Sam Lowry go through so much during the course of the film and when it looks he may have gotten a happy ending after all, you rejoice because of the events that have happened so far. And then, the rug is pulled from under your feet. Turns out that nothing like that actually happened and Sam is left in a delusional state. What could be comforting from this you might ask. Well, there is a simple answer. It saves him from the soul crushing horrors of reality. In his mind, he and the woman he loves have escaped the totalitarian state and are embarking on a happy journey. But in reality, she has been killed and he’s been arrested. Put yourself in Sam’s shoes and think, dream or reality ? Sometimes it is good to be delusional.

Until next time, bye.