THE RISE OF THEOCRATIC TENDENCIES AND THE PERIL OF MAJORITARIANISM IN BRAZIL'S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE ARE DRAWING UNSETTLING PARALLELS TO THE UNITED STATES' OWN DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGES, ACCORDING TO FILMMAKERS LIKE PETRA COSTA.
Costa's film, 'Apocalypse in the Tropics,' meticulously documents the intertwining of Brazil's growing evangelical movement with its far-right political trajectory, a phenomenon she argues serves as a potent "parable" for contemporary American anxieties. The documentary, initially conceived as an examination of former president Jair Bolsonaro's COVID-19 response, evolved to probe the troubling blur between democratic governance and theocratic influence, with prominent televangelist Silas Malafaia emerging as a key figure. Malafaia's pronouncements, such as "Democracy is the absolute majority’s will!" and "Here, we’ll destroy them," underscore a sentiment that Costa believes resonates with populist fervor elsewhere.
THE FILM'S FOCUS ON MALAFIA, WHOSE INFLUENCE OVER BOLSONARO WAS SIGNIFICANT, ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE INCREASING POWER OF PASTORS IN BRAZILIAN POLITICS.
"What is fascinating is that when we began filming Malafaia, he was one of Bolsonaro’s allies, but as the political crisis deepened, Bolsonaro started losing many of his allies and Malafaia’s importance grew tremendously," Costa observed, pointing to a wider network of religious leaders wielding substantial political sway. This trend is further complicated by discussions of minority rights, a cornerstone of democratic ideals, which appear to be eroded in such environments.
PERSONAL IDENTITY INTERSECTS WITH POLITICAL TURMOIL
BEYOND THE SPECIFICITIES OF POLITICAL MOVEMENTS, BRAZILIAN CINEMA IS ALSO EXPLORING THE COMPLEXITIES OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BRAZILIAN IN AN ERA OF RADICAL CHANGE.
Filmmakers like Gabriel Novis, director of 'Alice,' are delving into deeply personal narratives. Novis's reconnection with his childhood friend, Alice, a trans woman whose passion for surfing was curtailed, speaks to the multifaceted challenges of identity in contemporary Brazil. Discussions surrounding his film, alongside 'Apocalypse in the Tropics,' at events like Envelope Live Q&A, reveal a cinematic landscape grappling with diverse themes – from the specter of far-right politics to the intimate struggles of personal identity.
Read More: Nunavut MP Lori Idlout Joins Liberals, Bringing Them Closer to Majority Government
A LEGACY OF AUTHORITARIANISM AND STRUGGLE
THE SHADOW OF BRAZIL'S MILITARY DICTATORSHIP CONTINUES TO CAST A LONG REACH, INFORMING CONTEMPORARY FILMS AND NATIONAL DISCOURSE.
A number of films explore this period, highlighting the unaddressed traumas of victims and the lack of justice. This historical context is particularly relevant in light of reports detailing Jair Bolsonaro and his associates' alleged plans to overthrow the government, including assassination plots and attempts to nullify election results. The legacy of an Amnesty Law that pardoned military officers and torturers, ostensibly for national reconciliation, adds another layer of complexity to Brazil's ongoing reckoning with its past and the implications for its democratic future.
The earliest cinematic endeavors in Brazil, dating back to the late 19th century, initially focused on capturing the "exotic landscape" for European audiences. Films like 'Carlota Joaquina, Princesa do Brasil' and 'Netto Perde Sua Alma' offered early explorations of Brazilian history and identity, though often through a colonial lens. These historical accounts, whether comedic depictions of royal exiles or dramas of anti-colonial conspiracies, form a backdrop to the current cinematic examinations of democratic crises and personal identity.