Widely believed to be Terry Gilliam's best film, Brazil's brilliantly imaginative vision of a retro-futuristic bureaucracy has had a lasting influence on genre cinema. Exploring its complex history and relationship with other dystopias, Paul McAuley explains why this satire on the unchecked power of the state is more relevant than ever.

PAUL MCAULEY is the Arthur C. Clarke award-winning author of crime and science fiction novels, including Pasquale's Angel (1994), Fairyland (1995), Whole Wide World (2001), White Devils (2004), The Quiet War (2008) and Evening's Empires (2013).

Brazil'.- Conclusion.- Notes.- Credits.- Bibliography.