The unnamed city in Gilliam’s Brazil is undoubtedly bizarre and maddening upon first glance. The clutter and disorganization of the set is contrasted with the theoretically rigid organizational structure of the political system housed in the ministry of information. The paperwork and forms of the ministry of information is only theoretically organized, since, as we see through the eyes of Sam Lowry, the chaos within the governing body is insane. For the citizens, however, the political authority is represented by propaganda posters and billboards, the constant suspicion of neighbours, and ultimately, the violent abduction and arrest of suspected criminals from their own homes. Leading through fear and brainwashing is primarily connected to fascist forms of government, but the primary link between the government of this city and fascism lies in the authoritarian notion of self sacrifice for the betterment of the whole in the future. Utilitarianism such as this is clearly defined through the propaganda posters such as the slogan “Happiness, we’re all in it together”. The political madness of this fascist city plays a good back ground to the development of the character of Sam Lowry: as he discovers more and more about the dark secrets of the Ministry of Information, he becomes more and more like the character of his dreams, eventually standing up against the institution for which he worked. Revelations of character paralleling the revelation of the insanity behind the oppressive government works to build a connection between Sam and the audience which would not be there otherwise.