Oscar
2004,
Sergio Morkin
60 Mins.
Feature Documentary
A fascinating ride with taxi-driver, urban artist and social-visionary Oscar Brahim as he challenges Argentinean contemporary consumerism and politics with his graffiti-style transformations of advertising billboards in Buenos Aires. By constructing images that are at times disturbing, humorous and profound, Oscar radically exposes hypocrisy in advertising, as well as taking on key social issues: political corruption, abortion, unemployment, and poverty. Recruiting other artists, and his own family, to join him on his escapades, Oscar’s work gains public attention from passersby, journalists and ad executives alike. As Oscar rises from relative obscurity to celebrity status, he is forced to face – both in his personal and professional life – daunting challenges that threaten the survival of his family and art. Filmed during the social unrest of 2001, Sergio Morkin’s documentary weaves Oscar’s art and life into auditory and visual montages that capture the socio-political milieu of present-day Argentina.
