From day one, Terry Gilliam's darkly funny bureaucratic nightmare inspired praise, sparked controversy, and caused a fair amount of confusion. Happily, The Criterion Collection's DVD version of Brazil offers to clear the air. The three-disc set contains the definitive director's cut, Universal's infamous "Love Conquers All" edit, audio commentaries, interviews, and an hour-long documentary recounting the bitter struggle over the film's American release. It's an exhaustive look at a fascinating chapter in movie history and, ultimately, a powerful example of the real-life struggle between institutional thinking and human imagination.

Tony Peltier