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Q: Brazil Mask Prop ( Answered,   0 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Brazil Mask Prop
Category: Arts and Entertainment
Asked by: illuv-ga
List Price: $2.00
Posted: 04 Jul 2003 17:52 PDT
Expires: 03 Aug 2003 17:52 PDT
Question ID: 225238
in the movie brazil, what are the little masks that the interrogators wore called?
Answer  
Subject: Re: Brazil Mask Prop
Answered By: pinkfreud-ga on 04 Jul 2003 18:56 PDT
 
I love this movie! For those who haven't yet seen "Brazil", here's an
image of the mask in question:

Personal Pages of Trond Frittz
http://www.trond.com/brazil/images/brazil48.jpg

Regarding the origin of the mask, these posts from the "Brazil" forum
on MrCranky.com provide some insight:

"What's up with the hideous baby masks?
Posted by: clint@ou.edu (booga)

Where have I seen them before, and why were they used? I saw something
like them in 'Nothing But Trouble', but I don't draw any connection
between that garbage and Brazil. Disturbing!

01/05/97: Re: What's up with the hideous baby masks?
Posted by: ajc@doggysoft.co.uk (BobInce)

Apparently the masks were merely based on a present Gilliam's mum gave
him or summat. They scared the wossname out of him, so he used them in
the film. (Quite effectively, I thought.)"

Mr Cranky Forums
http://www.mrcranky.com/movies/brazil/6.html

Here's another mention of the masks as being inspired by a gift from
Terry Gilliam's mother:

"Q. Why the hideous masks, like the one Jack Lint wears for the
interrogation?
A. Gilliam's mother once sent him a mask like that, and it haunted him
ever since.  Gilliam intended the effect of combining the masks and
the decaying bodies of the Forces of Darkness (the small, troll-like
creatures which Sam sees in his dreams) to be an intermingling of the
beginning and ends of life."

FAQS.org: Brazil FAQ
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/movies/brazil-faq/

Here is a description of the Information Retrieval Officer's mask, as
found in the actual script of "Brazil":

"They all sign the document which the I.R. OFFICER retains after
giving carbon copies to the GUARDS. The GUARDS then proceed to the
door and take up positions on either side of it. The I.R. OFFICER
heads toward SAM. We can now see he wears a mask. It is the face of
the FORCES OF DARKNESS. A smiling baby doll face."

Personal Pages of Trond Frittz
http://www.trond.com/brazil/brazil_script.htm

So, in answer to your question about what the masks are called, I
would say that the script is the best authority: the mask worn by the
I.R. Officer is "a smiling baby doll face." And we have Terry
Gilliam's mom to thank.

Search terms used:

"terry gilliam" + "brazil" + "mask(s)"
"brazil" + "baby mask(s)"
"brazil" + "doll mask(s)"

I hope this information is helpful. If anything is unclear, or if a
link does not function, please request clarification; I'll be glad to
offer further assistance before you rate my answer.

Best wishes,
pinkfreud
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