An uplifting feature documentary highlighting the transformative power of art and the beauty of the human spirit. Top-selling contemporary artist Vik Muniz takes us on an emotional journey from Jardim Gramacho, the world's largest landfill on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, to the heights of international art stardom. Vik collaborates with the brilliant catadores, pickers of recyclable materials, true Shakespearean characters who live and work in the garbage quoting Machiavelli and showing us how to recycle ourselves.
Direction
Walker finds Shakespeare in a landfill without being condescending.
Cinematography
Garbage never looked this gorgeous—seriously, the color palette slaps.
Writing
Catadores quoting philosophy hits harder than scripted dialogue.
Director
Lucy Walker
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Jardim Gramacho closed in 2012, displacing 20,000 catadores; the film became evidence of their existence.
Vik's 'Pictures of Garbage' sold for $50K+; catadores received ~$3K each—Walker intentionally leaves this tension unresolved.
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