Educational Media Reviews Online

This documentary profiles several people who make a living recycling garbage from the streets of Rio de Janeiro. The film maker manages to put a charming spin on this humble occupation by finding subjects proud of their independence and ready to talk about the details of the business: prices, outlets, and prospects. Cans have risen in value, while paper declines. One man shows off his cart, locally called a “donkey without a tail,” and proudly points to his all purpose design that includes a cooking unit. Two children help their grandfather to collect and earn. He has twenty years experience in paper recycling, and considers it far better than working for a firm. He agrees with others who extol the advantages of being your own boss and getting paid in cash every day; it’s an organic approach to daily life that keeps some of these people fit and youthful. Another Portuguese immigrant has moved on to work in a paper deposit, where others come to sell their findings. Two children believe it keeps them from stealing, probably prompted by the fact that it involves a similar opportunistic method of approach. Only one person smarts at the disrespect she feels in the streets, but still, the important thing proclaimed by all is earning money. Some background on recycling in the city or placing his subjects and their occupation within the larger socio-economic context would have added interest to this film. But while the film maker comes close to romanticizing these lives—where they live, for instance, is not clear – he does succeed in illustrating the extraordinary resilience of many humans. Recommended.