“We’re all in it together, kid.”
synopsis
A low-level bureaucrat in a dystopian society becomes entangled in a clerical error that spirals into paranoia, repression, and elaborate fantasy escapes.
pairs well with ...
mini-review
Visually overwhelming and darkly comic, this is bureaucracy turned nightmare. Office Havoc as existential dread.
A late night and philosophical paranoia.
Absurdist's Corner
A dystopian regime undone by paperwork errors is both absurd and chillingly plausible.
fun facts
Director Terry Gilliam battled Universal over the ending. The studio wanted a happy cut; Gilliam publicly fought back and won.
The title comes from the song “Aquarela do Brasil,” which plays ironically throughout the film.
Robert De Niro took a small role as a renegade heating engineer simply because he admired Gilliam’s work.
The film’s chaotic production delays and studio interference nearly killed Gilliam’s Hollywood career.