Waste Land

Filmed over nearly three years, director Lucy Walker followed renowned artist Vik Muniz as he journeyed from his home base in Brooklyn to his native Brazil, to the world's largest garbage dump, Jardim Gramacho, located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. There he photographed an eclectic band of "catadores" or self-designated pickers of recyclable materials. Muniz’s creative imagination and empathy, working in tandem with this colorful band of characters, has transfixed festival audiences worldwide, winning major awards at Sundance, Full Frame, and Berlin.

Muniz created large scale portraits of the catadores using landfill refuse, while collaborating with them throughout the process. These photographs allow the workers to re-imagine their lives, revealing their deepest dreams and anxieties. Walker, recently acclaimed for her documentary Countdown to Zero, has woven a rich narrative, replete with unforgettable characters and unexpected twists, along with a score by Moby. Her exhilarating tale underscores the transformative power of art and the mysterious alchemy of the human spirit, even in the most forsaken place. Art indeed can be recycled from refuse.

Join us for a complimentary reception after the event at 8:00 pm.