Artist decides to use impoverished workers to ostensibly 'give back' to their community. Meanwhile, he agrees to an entire documentary to be filmed at the same time he garners more kudos for his art and his philanthropy. Been there, done that, to death. Really quite depressing, when all is said and done.

After 34 years, the landfill officially closed on June 3rd 2012. The site is to be transformed into a methane recapture plant, creating fuel from the gases emitted from the massive rot. I read that 18% of the proceeds from the sale of methane gas are to be used for environmental restoration of the Jardim Gramacho neighborhood. The future of approximately 3,000 catadores that collected recyclables from the dump site is still being resolved.

I love the different dimensions Vik brings to his art, but I feel that the documentary itself is a little bit one dimensional in the way it portrays the catadores. The catadores who volunteered to be part in the portraits all seemed to be in the same circle, with similar attitudes and backgrounds. I am sure not all of the catadores at Gramacho are as optimistic as Marak, for example.

Excellent documentary that looks both into the execution of an artistic idea and the effect of same on the people involved. Strongly recommended.

Excellent movie about real people with difficult lives and how they are helped. Very inspirational.

excellent movie about how art can bring healing to the ones participating and the ones viewing-- hearts are changed

I hadn't expected anything in particular of this. However I guess I was a tad hopeful. And thus, disappointed. It seems, though it touches on some fine points, that this documentary is mostly about the artist promoting his work.

An amazing documentary of a brazilian photographer who returns to Brazil and Rio de Janero to take photo portraits of the garbage pickers at the dump. These pickers are more than what they seem and the story unfolds beautifully.

This was an understated and really great look at those people in Brazil who live their life sorting through garbage. It's also nice to see how the opinion of the artist change, how the involvement of the catadores in the art project inspires them, strengthens them, etc, plus it's really cool to see how the works themselves are created. Absolutely breath taking. And the best part? All of the monies raised went straight to the participants in the film who work as garbage sorters.

probably the most inspiring and beautiful documentary I've seen. leaves you crying with hope. he treated each person he met with respect and celebrated their lives in difficult conditions. honest, fascinating, original.