6º – Ilha das Flores (Jorge Furtado, 1989) | Lista dos 100 melhores documentários brasileiros

Summary

The script explores the complexities of human life, labor, economy, and social systems through a detailed narrative that connects everyday actions to larger societal structures. It follows the journey of Mr. Suzuki, a tomato farmer, and Dona Nete, who exchanges perfumes for money, ultimately focusing on the trash and garbage produced by Porto Alegre. The story delves into the role of organic waste, pigs, and the economic system, highlighting the stark contrast between human beings' pursuit of profit and survival, and the harsh realities of those with no money or owners. Themes of human ingenuity, exploitation, and freedom are explored.

Takeaways

• 😀 The script takes place in Belém Novo, Porto Alegre, Brazil, exploring human activities like tomato cultivation and food exchange.
• 😀 Humans are described as mammals with highly developed brains (telencephalon) and opposable thumbs, which enable complex tasks like precision manipulation.
• 😀 The process of money creation is explained as a response to difficulties in direct exchange of goods, such as tomatoes for chickens or whales.
• 😀 Supermarkets were created to facilitate the exchange of money for goods like tomatoes, which are grown for nutritional value.
• 😀 The script highlights the economic exchange where humans, like Mrs. Nete, make a profit by trading perfumes for money, which is then used for purchasing food.
• 😀 The concept of profit is explained, showing how Mrs. Nete’s small profit from perfume sales enables her to purchase food like tomatoes and pork.
• 😀 Garbage, or waste, is generated by human activities, and large cities like Porto Alegre produce significant amounts daily, with garbage being taken to isolated locations like Ilha das Flores.
• 😀 Ilha das Flores is depicted as a garbage dump, where organic materials, like tomatoes and other food scraps, are separated for use as animal feed or discarded.
• 😀 The script contrasts human and animal intelligence, particularly focusing on pigs, which have an owner and can be fed by the waste of humans, while women and children rely on discarded food due to lack of money.
• 😀 The concept of freedom is explored as a human ideal, where people are motivated by the desire for freedom, which is associated with having the means to choose and control their own lives.

Q & A

What distinguishes human beings from other mammals and bipeds?

Human beings are distinguished by two main characteristics: their highly developed telencephalon (part of the brain responsible for processing information) and their opposable thumb, which allows for precision manipulation.

How do tomatoes fit into the human economy?

Tomatoes are cultivated primarily for their nutritional qualities. In the script, Mr. Suzuki grows tomatoes not for personal consumption but to sell them in exchange for money. Money facilitates the exchange of goods like tomatoes, which are sold at supermarkets.

What role does money play in human economies according to the script?

Money was created to simplify the exchange of goods and services. It eliminates the inefficiencies of barter systems, where direct exchanges, like tomatoes for chickens, could be problematic. Money makes it easier to assess and exchange various products.

Why is profit important in the exchange of goods?

Profit represents the difference between the cost of goods and the price at which they are sold. In the script, Dona Nete exchanges perfumes for money, which she uses to purchase food for her family. The profit she makes allows her to meet her family's needs.

What is the significance of garbage in the narrative?

Garbage represents the byproducts of human activity, particularly those deemed unsuitable for further use. In the script, garbage, such as unwanted tomatoes, is discarded and taken to Ilha das Flores, where it can be left to decay, attract disease, and pollute the environment.

How are the pigs on Ilha das Flores treated differently from the human inhabitants?

Pigs on Ilha das Flores are treated as valuable livestock, fed organic materials from the garbage that are considered unsuitable for human consumption. In contrast, humans on the island, who lack money and ownership, are relegated to foraging for food that is discarded by others.

What is the role of human labor in the economy described in the script?

Human labor is central to the economy. People like Dona Nete exchange their work (selling perfumes) for money, which they then use to purchase food. This system illustrates how human efforts are exchanged for goods and services, facilitating trade and consumption.

What does the script imply about the relationship between humans and other living beings, like pigs or chickens?

The script draws attention to the differences between humans and other animals, especially in terms of ownership and economic power. While pigs and chickens are used for food, humans control resources like money and land, determining how goods (like tomatoes) are distributed and consumed.

What is the significance of the concept of freedom in the script?

Freedom is portrayed as a key human ideal, often linked to ownership, power, and the ability to make choices. The script suggests that humans, as free beings, have the ability to act based on their highly developed intellect, opposable thumbs, and control over economic systems.

How does the script critique the economic and social inequalities in human society?

The script critiques social inequalities by highlighting how those without money or ownership, like the women and children on Ilha das Flores, are treated as second-class citizens. They must rely on others' discarded food, while the pigs and their owners have more access to resources.