Freedom is not a new concept to many of people around the world, however while many will scream proudly about their own freedom, do they know how little freedom they have, how little of a choice is present? Many would not notice the great illusion of freedom that even our society has today, with the warrantless surveillance of their citizens online, to the consumers who are unaware that many companies sell foods, clothes, and more under many different brands, to trick the consumer into believing they have a choice.
In Terry Gilliam’s film Brazil, many of the citizens in this dystopian, totalitarian society face the same issue of an illusion of freedom, convincing themselves through outlets like consumerism that they have a choice, however even in these instances freedom is void. In the first scene of Brazil an advertisement for ducts is aired on a television. Ducts are contraptions in citizens’ everyday lives, wired throughout every house.
These ducts are supposed to make people’s lives easier, although as it can be seen by the first few scenes of the film filled with contraptions malfunctioning at seemingly simple tasks, it often makes them harder. These ducts are not optional for citizens, and pass information along to and from the government. The ducts in this film are the first major symbol of this societies illusion of freedom. The commercial perpetuates this illusion when it states: “Hi there. I want to talk to you about ducts. Do your ducts seem old-fashioned, out of date?
Central Services’ new duct designs are now available in hundreds of different colors to suit your individual tastes. Hurry now, while stocks last, to your nearest Central Services showroom. Designer colors to suit your demanding tastes. ” Individuals can choose and customize the looks of their ducts and can even choose one based on “individual tastes,” giving them a false sense of choice and individuality, however as the film progresses, one rule gives insight into this false pretense: do not touch the ducts.
Only the Central Services, who is a branch of the government is authorized to touch and work on the ducts. It is seen how seriously the citizens of this society take this rule as well, as even though it is Christmas and many decorations adorn the walls, the ducts remain untouched by even the smallest strands of garland, and is why a rouge man tampering with all the ducts, Harry Tuttle, is immediately accused of terrorism.
The ducts are a constant reminder of how this society is not truly free and how freedom here is simply superficial, but are also an example of this government’s totalitarian philosophy as everyone is completely connected to the government, and nothing can be hidden. The citizens of this dystopian world have turned to consumerism to find the freedom they seek; however, this is, again, only superficial freedom. This thought process has led to a society filled with materialism, obsessed with buying, and obsessed with this illusion of choice even though, in this aspect of their lives, no choice exists.
In one scene of Brazil, a group of characters are enjoying a brunch. They are given a choice of a few foods, many of them picking different ones, however when the food arrives it all looks the same, as unappetizing green blobs, completely different from the picture on the menu with the characters complacently accepting this fact. Even though they “chose” what they wanted, they still ended up with the same exact meals, and accepted this nonchalantly. This shows just how deep this illusion is for society.
But with consumerism as the only outlet of freedom, this society glorified buying to the point of absurdity, even making an actual religion, “the consumers for Christ,” to justify the rampant and senseless materialism that is present in their society due to the lack of choice and freedom. Even death has become a part of the materialistic lifestyle. Mrs. Terrain’s funeral shows this as we see a bright pink, expensive looking coffin, gift-wrapped, not unlike any other purchase near the Christmas season would look.
However, Mrs. Terrain, whose body was liquefied from plastic surgery gone wrong, symbolizes how destructive this society’s values are. The competitiveness of the plastic surgery industry reflects the people’s need, not to just look good, but to create a sense of individuality and expression, which this world, because of the government’s complete control, is absent of. Furthermore, the film sports a retro fifties inspired theme.
But this retro feel had more to it than a love of the past, it shows how the government has stifled any creativity, individualism, or expression in this time period. With the fifties having the stereotype of society being innocent, pure, patriotic, and unquestioning of the government, it is the perfect time period to for this society to revert to, playing music, shows, and movies from the era, since making more in the present would run the risk of free thought and expression, which would be a risk to the government’s complete control of the citizens.
The values the people of the fifties surrounding the government also fits the theme of government control and loyalty, because the unquestioning, loyal, patriotic, and bureaucratic attitude present during that era. The ability to gain access to these fine arts gives the people sense that they have the freedom to watch art, to be creative; however, since all of what can be seen is controlled by the government, there is no freedom at all. Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, comments on society’s complacency regarding the loss of freedom and their inability to recognize the illusion of choice that surrounds it.
Using the symbolism of the ducts that control everything, the obsession with consumerism and materialism, and the retro aspects of an era that fits the government’s totalitarian attitude; Brazil, shows how easily this illusion is crafted and how it is a fact of life in any governing body. In the last scene, it makes a statement, as the main character, Sam Lowry, after being succumbed to torture or an “interrogation” has slipped into a world that is free, where he can live freely with the woman of his dreams, in his insanity he has freed himself from the oppressors, from the whole world, but even this freedom is but a mere illusion.
