If Franz Kafka had been an animator and film director–oh, and a member of Monty Python’s Flying Circus–this is the sort of outrageously dystopian satire one could easily imagine him making. However, Brazil was made by Terry Gilliam, who is all of the above except, of course, Franz Kafka. Be that as it may, Gilliam sure captures the paranoid-subversive spirit of Kafka’s The Trial (along with his own Python animation) in this bureaucratic nightmare-comedy about a meek governmental clerk named Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) whose life is destroyed by a simple bug. Not a software bug, a real bug (no doubt related to Kafka’s famous Metamorphosis insect) that gets smooshed in a printer and causes a typographical error unjustly identifying an innocent citizen, one Mr. Buttle, as suspected terrorist Harry Tuttle (Robert De Niro). When Sam becomes enmeshed in unravelling this bureaucratic glitch, he himself winds up labelled as a miscreant.

The movie presents such an unrelentingly imaginative and savage vision of 20th-century bureaucracy that it almost became a victim of small-minded studio management itself–until Gilliam surreptitiously screened his cut for the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, who named it the best movie of 1985 and virtually embarrassed Universal into releasing it. –Jim Emerson If Franz Kafka had been an animator and film director–oh, and a member of Monty Python’s Flying Circus–Brazil is the sort of outrageously dystopian satire one could easily imagine him making. In fact it was made by Terry Gilliam, who is all of the above except, of course, Franz Kafka. Be that as it may, Gilliam captures the paranoid-subversive spirit of Kafka’s The Trial (along with his own Python animation) in this bureaucratic nightmare-comedy about a meek government clerk named Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) whose life is destroyed by a simple bug. It’s not a software bug but a real bug (no doubt related to Kafka’s famous Metamorphosis insect) that gets squashed in a printer and causes a typographical error unjustly identifying an innocent citizen, one Mr Buttle, as suspected terrorist Harry Tuttle (Robert De Niro). When Sam becomes enmeshed in unravelling this bureaucratic tangle, he himself winds up labelled as a miscreant. The movie presents such an unrelentingly imaginative and savage vision of 20th-century bureaucracy that it almost became a victim of small-minded studio management itself–until Gilliam surreptitiously screened his cut for the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, who named it the best movie of 1985 and virtually embarrassed Universal into releasing it. –Jim Emerson

On the DVD: Brazil comes to DVD in a welcome anamorphic print of the full director’s cut–here running some 136 minutes. Disappointingly the only extra feature is the 30-minute making-of documentary “What Is Brazil?”, which consists of on-set and behind-the-scenes interviews. There’s nothing about the film’s controversial release history (covered so comprehensively on the North American Criterion Collection release), nor is Gilliam’s illuminating, irreverent directorial commentary anywhere to be found. The only other extra here is the ubiquitous theatrical trailer. A welcome release of a real classic, then, but something of a missed opportunity. –Mark Walker

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The ultimate gift for anybody that loves donkeys and the fun and laughter they bring. With this gift box you will make a real difference to the life of a donkey. In association with the Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary – a registered charity that care for and protects abused and ill-treated donkeys – this gift allows you to adopt the donkey of your choice. Once you have decided which donkey to adopt you register your gift following the simple gift registration details inside the gift box. A personalised supporter certificate will then follow in the post displaying your name and the name of the donkey that you have chosen to help. You will then receive donkey updates directly from the charity.After registration you will receive:• A personalised certificate displaying your nameGift Details:• You can register your gift box in one two ways; either online or by sending the gift registration instructions sheet enclosed in your gift boxFAQs:How does it work?The Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary is a registered charity which rescues and helps mistreated and neglected donkeys. Many donkeys arrive at the Sanctuary in a very bad condition. They are nursed back to health and are able to spend their days in comfortable happy surroundings. By adopting a donkey you are helping the charity to continue this valuable work. How do I choose which donkey to adopt?Read the enclosed booklet which gives details of the various donkeys available for adoption.Will I be able to visit my adopted donkey?Many adopters are able to visit their donkey on the farm in Oxfordshire. The Sanctuary is open daily from 11am – 4pm. If you would like to visit a particular donkey please call beforehand to check that the donkey is at home as they are very active in the local community sometimes visiting local village shows or country fairs. Please be aware that Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary is not a riding centre. It is a genuine working farm which provides a real home for many rescue

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