December 20, 2010 -- A documentary film about a project by Brazilian artist Vik Muniz to help garbage pickers in the world's largest landfill covers a lot of ground, from the landfill itself, to the run-down shacks where the workers live, to the elite world of glitzy art museums and auctions where the well-heeled bid tens of thousands of dollars for works of art featuring garbage and poor workers.

Muniz, raised on the mean streets of Rio, wanted to do an art project to benefit garbage pickers called “catadores” at the world's largest landfill, called Jardim Gramacho, in Rio. The Catadores pick through garbage dumped every day collecting an astonishing 200 tons per day of recyclable materials, like plastic, paper and metal, which they sell. Each catadore can make $100 or more per week this way. The work is hard and dangerous. One man tells of a garbage truck accident in which both his arms were broken. Others talk about eating food found among the garbage. Fires and smoke arise in the landfill and toxic materials are found there too. A sign warns of the danger of death at the landfill. The catadores are organized into an association to benefit the workers and their families.

Catadores are interviewed in the film who have worked at landfills for 30 years or more. Most point out that the work is more honorable than the most readily available alternatives, drug dealing and prostitution. Some are proud of their work, pointing out the environmental benefits of recycling. When some of the catadores are hired to help the artists in the project, some change their tune about their occupation. They are exposed to a world beyond the one they have known and they want a better life for themselves and their families. The artists themselves debate the effect they are having on the lives of the catadores, whether it is good or bad.

The artists choose several catadores to help them on the project and some of them also become subjects for the works of art that are made to be sold to benefit the catadores. Photography is used to create the initial images, which are all posed. These images are projected on a huge canvas on the floor of a studio. Selected recyclable materials, bottle caps, plastic and other items are artistically placed around this outline to create a final image which is then photographed with a large format camera and the prints are mounted and sold. The images are striking. The beauty, strength and nobility of the catadores comes alive in powerful, moving images.

After the project is over artist Vik Muniz muses about it in his upscale Brooklyn, New York, apartment. He had thought to go to Brazil to help the catadores, make his images and leave, being a mere observer. He had not counted on getting so involved in the lives of the catadores. He had not counted on them affecting him the way they did. Clearly, he was changed by this experience. The film gives us an update on what happened to the catadores featured in the film. Some $250,000 is raised to help the catadores, which is used for libraries, schooling and increasing income for the workers. One catadore gets a better job in a store, one starts her own business, but moves back to her old place because she misses her friends, another becomes a leader in an international organization of catadores, another dies of cancer shortly after the film is made. Everyone is affected by this experience, including most who see this film. This film rates a B.

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Copyright © 2010 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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