It's only a state of mind.

Low-level bureaucrat Sam Lowry escapes the monotony of his day-to-day life through a recurring daydream of himself as a virtuous hero saving a beautiful damsel. Investigating a case that led to the wrongful arrest and eventual death of an innocent man instead of wanted terrorist Harry Tuttle, he meets the woman from his daydream, and in trying to help her gets caught in a web of mistaken identities, mindless bureaucracy and lies.

Cast & crew

Terry Gilliam

Director

Jonathan Pryce

Sam Lowry

Robert De Niro

Harry Tuttle

Katherine Helmond

Mrs. Ida Lowry

Ian Holm

Mr. Kurtzmann

Bob Hoskins

Spoor

Michael Palin

Jack Lint

Ian Richardson

Mr. Warrenn

Peter Vaughan

Mr. Helpmann

Kim Greist

Jill Layton

Jim Broadbent

Dr. Jaffe

Barbara Hicks

Mrs. Alma Terrain

Charles McKeown

Lime

Derrick O'Connor

Dowser

Kathryn Pogson

Shirley

Bryan Pringle

Spiro

Sheila Reid

Mrs. Buttle

John Flanagan

T.V. Interviewer / Salesman

Roger Ashton-Griffiths

Priest

J

John Pierce Jones

Basement Guard

Nigel Planer

Charlie--Dept. of Works