Wastelands

Wastelands is one of the coolest documentaries I've ever watched. It's about the pickers at Jardim Garmacho, a landfill in Rio de Janeiro. In the beginning of the film it was interesting and while the interest remained the film slowly got sadder and sadder.
   The main focus of the film was a man named Vik Muniz who made portraits of many of the pickers out of garbage to raise money for them. He auctioned off one piece in London for $50,000 US dollars. Vik also gave them a new sense of what they can accomplish and what they can do with their lives.
   Many of the people interviewed said they were proud to work at the landfill. It was easy for them to get sucked up in robbery, drug dealing, prostitution, or some other dishonest job. They felt working in the landfill, even though it was frowned upon by society, was a much more responsible choice. This is good choice. They can work their way out of a landfill but once you start one of those jobs you can’t get out easily.
   I realized after watching this film that I produce a lot of garbage. I might recycle less though. These people make money on taking the recyclables out of the garbage. I’ll give them more business.
   Vik Muniz could do this for almost any area in the world. He could do Iraq or Afghanistan. Or just an American Ghetto