Wasteland

Waste Land
The new Bloor Hot Docs Cinema has just opened. What a great addition to the Toronto cultural scene! The last few evenings have provided free screenings of Wasteland. It was a great way to introduce the newly refurbished venue to the community. Well done to all involved. The Bloor Cinema took over from the Madison Picture Palace that first started in 1913. The Bloor Cinema has been a favorite in the neighborhood for years showing great films at reasonable prices. Now the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema is exclusively a documentary facility.
It seems as if in the last few years more documentaries are being made and the quality is often exceptional. The Hot Docs (annual International Documentary Festival) will run from April 26 – May 6. Check the web for the programs listed.www.HOTDOCS.CA
As soon as Waste Land began I realized I had seen this extraordinary film. It was the winner of the World Cinema Audience award at Sundance 2010.
Vic Muniz was originally from a poor family in San Paulo. He went on to become an international artist. He appreciated all he had and wanted to give back to the poor people living in Brazil. He is a very talented charming man.
We are introduced to the Jardim Gramacho, the largest garbage dump in the world. All the garbage from the millionaires of Rio de Janeiro as well as the garbage from the poorest area is dumped here. Hundreds of workers sort through the garbage to recycle materials and sell them. The work is terrible. The people live in little shacks. I can just imagine the stench. The vultures fly overhead and the workers trudge through this gigantic mess sorting out materials to recycle and sell. One worker stated that it was like walking in a plate of jello.
Many of the workers are interviewed. They claim they are not garbage pickers but are recycling. They even have a Picker’s Association. I was amazed at the camaraderie and friendliness of the workers. One worker had been there for 26 years.
Vic Muniz took pictures of several of the workers. He made paintings by using some of the recycled materials to fill in the portraits. The resulting works of art sold for a lot of money in the international market.
On one trip the artist took several of the workers to Europe for an art opening. Can you just imagine the thrill of going from a garbage dump to a famous art gallery in Europe? They saw their pictures being auctioned. They saw their faces hanging on a wall. What a transformation. Maybe for the first time they saw their own beauty. They witnessed the auction of the paintings which sold for a tremendous amount of money. Vic Muniz used the funds to help the workers.
The artist always saw these workers as real people and treated them with great respect. His rapport was phenomenal. The workers opened up and told us a lot about themselves.
The paintings gave respect to the workers and built their self esteem.
At the end of the film we are told what happened to the workers who were photographed. Many went on to find better jobs and get out of that environment.
The only problem with the documentaries is that they will not play for a long time. It is best to check the web or pick up a program from the theatre.
How fortunate we are to have such a place in Toronto.
Check out the new venue. Check out the up coming documentaries. The only way it will succeed is if we all support this amazing creative venture.