Early October 2009 and documentarist Eduardo Coutinho had some ideas for a future project concerning media, TV and its effects on viewers. Whatever that project was (if it
ever got out) the early concept was created here in "Um Dia na Vida" ("A Day in the Life") where he filmed 20 hours of regular TV programation from the major networks of Brazilian TV
and edited down without giving a context, without talking about it. The challenge is on us viewers, specially the ones who consume it on a regular basis selecting some programs and
ignoring others. Since the programation is quite limited and before the advent of the internet it was all we had, what's to choose with what we are given? It was hell on earth and
still is if we take into consideration TV still is a major source of entertainment, information and it can create public perception on facts and people, though in a limited manner.
Internet has taken its place and TV is a supporting act in part of this. Putting that issue outside, if we have to judge TV for itself based on this project we were doomed to stay
with some of the most unusual, damning and barely useful tools to get what we want whether being education, news, information and entertainment. Yet this film is something to be seen,
felt and experienced.
Coutinho captured images from all TV sources available on a given boring day and truth is: it hasn't changed a bit. He starts with an education program that teaches an English
course and finishes with a midnight prayer coming a televangelical program, and in between there are news programs, soap operas, celebrity gossip, reality programs, animation among others
(yet somehow he didn't stay up too late to get at least one film showing). He spends a couple of minutes with each network/program then moves ahead to the next. On a superficial level,
since I knew the majority of the programs presented, my mood elevated and floated depending on what was shown (but it's a pity that he spent just five minutes on MTV much later into night).
On a deeper level, the discourse can stretch itself for hours. And despite being just one hour and so long, it really feels as if you're watching TV for 24 hours straight. Plenty of nostalgia
is involved, and it felt like I haven't lived that period, that year since nothing was so memorable in my head except for the routine programs.
On a deeper level, what's Coutinho aiming at? The critical level of quality TV while one show worst than the other? Or the level of bread and circus which favors the majority
of audiences in their demands for entertaining rather than quality educational programs? A criticism to the repetitive state of programs shown, mostly targeted to specific audiences,
and that also includes the commercials, mostly all related to beauty and health improvements. There's so much that be viewed here that the ultimate reflection is destined for each
vieewer to make their own conclusions. All I can say one has to be really courageous and masochist to handle 20 hours of regular TV programmation. I couldn't do that. Cable is a little
easier, even though it's quality had reduced a bit over the years, losing space to internet medias since those have more freedom since the viewer becomes an active part in choosing what
he wants to see unlike TV where you are practically a slave to the system, you are fed with what you're given and with limited choice to what you see and get informed. Sure, you can flip through
channels but it isn't the same if compared to the internet where you can browse exactly through everything on any given time without the long wait for your special show to come. And back then,
TV networks were crawling through showing special material or archives to internet viewers; today is a common practice and that faithful TV audience are turning more and more to see part of their
regular programs but on the net, catching them otuside of the regular hours of exhibition.
On a more simplistic level, in spite of knowing the programs featured here and knowing the dying state of Brazilian TV, I felt nostalgic with some of the things shown, coming from
a different era and seeing how little things changed in the state of the country and the world (this was captured back when the Olympic committee was about to select the nation host of the
future event for the 2016 and Brazil won the campaign). Some programs are out of my radar and I can't stand it, the news ones were the best possible, and there was the awards from MTV Brazil,
which comes towards the end in one small hilarious bit (by that a soon-to be dead channel on the regular TV, later turned into a cable network that only presents dumb reality shows and no
exhisting VJ to present music programs and events). The real deal by Coutinho is presenting through film a deep rooted thought that crosses our minds when are watching television for some hours
and not finding anything relevant to makes us stay informed or distracted, it is the exact same reaction of impatience, annoyance and some slight comfort (pay attention to what he does by staying
a little longer in some programs but five minutes are essential for him to make up his mind or flip channels or don't). It was a genial project! 10/10.
