Zero Theorem (2013)

In Terry Gilliam's 1985 film Brazil, a socially-isolated man in a dystopian society works a seemingly meaningless job while dreaming of a higher purpose.  Assigned to a special project by his deliberately obtuse and obstructive superiors, he meets a special woman, falls in love, and finally dares to fight for what he wants, which puts him on a path that might best be described as having a bittersweet ending.

In Terry Gilliam's 2013 film Zero Theorem, a socially-isolated man in a dystopian society works a seemingly meaningless job while dreaming of a higher purpose.  Assigned to a special project by his deliberately obtuse and obstructive superiors, he meets a special woman, falls in love, and finally dares to fight for what he wants, which puts him on a path that might best be described as having a bittersweet ending.

I'm perhaps being slightly unfair in the above two paragraphs, because plenty of the details of these two films are very different.  But the reality is that it's hard to ignore how similar are the core story and themes of the two.  For me at least, the change of details doesn't really make up for how familiar it all felt.

Of course if you've never seen Brazil then you won't have that problem.  But if you've never seen Brazil ... well, I'd say go watch it, rather than this re-tread of the same ideas.  Though I will give Zero Theorem this: Melinda Thierry is a much more compelling love interest than Kim Greist was.