The space that separates the title of this film from simply “wasteland” seems trivial, but the distinction it points to is nothing short of essential. The world the film explores is indeed a land of waste, but it is also a world of vibrant optimism, endless creativity, and touching generosity on the part of the people who occupy it. Director Lucy Walker follows artist Vik Muniz as he visits the world’s largest garbage dump in Rio de Janeiro, discovering the human treasure it contains in the remarkable population that works recycling and reusing the salvageable materials they find. In spite of the unimaginable conditions, the film’s subjects bring an enthusiasm to their lives that most people would find enviable. As Muniz constructs one of his famous portraits alongside the dump’s inhabitants, the film leaves us wondering who the true artists are.

Presented as part of the Depth of Field 2011-2012 Series: Art and Culture in Transit(ion)

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