Austin Film Festival Movie Review: ‘The Highest Brasil’

11/2/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Still from ‘The Highest Brasil’ Courtesy of Brendan Films.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘The Highest Brasil’.

We live in a supremely fascinating and unsettling time in human history. Fascinating in the respect that our lives have been made incredibly easy and comfortable through the wonder of science and technology. For we have all the knowledge of humanity at our fingertips through our smart phones, and we can communicate with anyone, anywhere, at any time through the same device. And science has extended our lives, given us a fighting chance against illnesses that once claimed us, to the point where humanity recently survived a powerhouse pandemic. Not to mention, we are no longer bored since entertainment surrounds us at all times, and we have plenty to eat and plenty to bring us peace. Which brings us to the unsettling nature of our modern world.

In that, while we can flip on the tube or our tablet and watch stories that bring us joy or play games that soothe our minds, and while we will make it to our seventies and eighties and beyond and learn everything, we’ve ever wanted to know, there’s a strange shift happening in our world. In that, there are scores of people who find no comfort or peace or joy in such wonders. In fact, they seem to shun them and shun the knowledge we’ve all been gifted with. And they are instead eager to ponder upon conspiracies and nonsense, and search for meaning where there is none, and we simply do not understand why. Why there’s this strange rebellion and need for awkward catharsis for people that have no reason to turn their backs on the many gifts they’ve been given. But they do, and it is such a widespread problem that even cinema is digging into such matters. In fact, a story that explores the why recently screened at the Austin Film Festival, and that makes writer/director Jeremy Curl’s The Highest Brasil, quite the powerful viewing experience.

Courtesy of the fact that his story immerses us in the life of a man suffering from that strange disillusionment. For Shamus is simply lost in this life. He goes to work, gets his haul on the ocean, enjoys a cold beer and time with his wife and finds nothing within any of that. He simply exists, in his mind, and doesn’t know what the point of that or anything else is, and that leads him to hang out with some interesting new friends, led by a man named Brendan. Who has taken the time to ask this little group of lost souls, is this it? Is this all there is in life? And those questions inspire Shamus like never before, to follow Brendan’s teachings and to allow him deep into his life, in the hopes of finally finding meaning and purpose at last, and if that includes a foolhardy mission to find the mythical place, the Highest Brasil… so be it.

Which really is the perfect way to ponder upon what is happening in our world. For Shamus really is every person that spends time exploring myths about lizard people, or conspiracies that simply aren’t possible and this film wastes little time in exploring… why they turn to that. For Curl’s brilliant script poses the reality that perhaps… the desire of some to shift toward the bizarre and create these narratives and searches for more, is a strange side effect of having it all. As though those individuals have indeed reached a mental apex, where they are no longer challenged, where they can no longer discover and find meaning… and that prompts them to dig deep into realms that give them that, that give them purpose and something to believe in at last. So that there is more to life than lather, rinse, repeat and that’s a fascinating take on this strange problem in our world, one that has incredible merit.

Because… what else could it be? Does that make it healthy, though? Absolutely not. Can we fix it? That’s hard to say, and it is not the job of this film to offer an answer to that question. For this is systemic and related to something deeper and unique to each individual, so if anyone wants an answer… then perhaps working to not shun people who begin to slide toward this silliness and gently helping them find purpose and direction again, is the key. Which may sound silly, but we all know deep down that kindness goes a long way. But while those elements make for a powerful film, one that really does have a lot to say about the state of the world and the search for the impossible that so many are taking part in, we’d be remiss to not point out, that another reason this film is so incredibly brilliant is that it presents such subject matter in a supremely palatable and dynamic manner.

For the vast majority of deeper moments in this story, are handled via black humor, and the jokes work. For they are deadpan in nature and land beautifully thanks to the talents of the cast and their comedic timing skills, and those relaxed moments really help the message to land. Since that makes those critical moments of learning comfortable instead of overwhelming. But make no mistake about it, there is darkness to be found in this tale, and some powerhouse moments that will shock you, for this is at its core, a story about the flaws of the human condition and in the end, this an absolute must-watch. For its message is poignant and powerful, and now is the right time to have a conversation about the state of the mental health of so many… before we lose more to the crackpot conspiracies that thrive in the dark recesses of our minds.

Watch ‘The Highest Brasil’

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