Special program "Embodiments of Art"  

“The moment when one thing turns into another is the most beautiful moment.” (Vik Muniz) Filmed over nearly three years, Waste Land follows renowned artist Vik Muniz as he journeys from his home base in Brooklyn to his native Brazil and on his way there explores the world’s largest garbage dump, Jardim Gramacho, which is located in the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. There he meets and creates large-scale portraits of an eclectic group of “catadores”, or tasters, who pick and sell recyclable materials from the landfill. Muniz‘s initial objective was to “paint” the catadores with garbage. However, his collaboration with these inspiring characters as they recreate photographic images of themselves out of garbage reveals both dignity and despair as the catadores begin to re-imagine their lives. Lucy Walker has great access to the entire process and in the end offers stirring evidence of the transformative power of art and the alchemy of the human spirit. As she herself admits, she has always interested in garbage, what it says about us, what in there embarrasses us, and what we can’t bear to part with.

Festivals and Awards

Sundance International Film Festival, USA (2010) – the Audience Award
Berlin Film Festival, Germany (2010) – the Audience Award
Seattle International Film Festival, USA (2010) – the golden Space Needle Award for the Best Documentary, the Audience Award
Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia (2010)

Lucy Walker

She grew up in London, England, and started directing in high school and continued as an undergraduate at Oxford University, where her plays won prestigious Oxford University Dramatic Society awards. After graduating with a BA and MA in Literature, she continued her studies at New York University’s Graduate Film Program. During her time in New York, she moonlighted as a musician and DJ, through which she met Moby, who contributed the music for Waste Land. Walker uses dramatic filmmaking techniques to make documentary films, following memorable characters on transformative journeys that a grant unique access inside closed worlds.

Selected Filmography

Countdown to Zero (2010)
Devil’s Playground (2002)