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‘Apocalypse in the Tropics’ Debuts in U.S. as Bolsonaro Faces Election-Overturning Trial

The film underscores parallels between Bolsonaro’s religiously driven politics and Trump’s brand of populism following Trump’s defense on Truth Social.

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Former Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva campaigns in Petra Costa’s documentary “Apocalypse in the Tropics,” which examines Brazil’s political crisis.
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Overview

  • Petra Costa’s documentary charts how Brazil’s evangelical movement and US-style prayer breakfasts propelled Jair Bolsonaro to power in 2019.
  • The film opens in U.S. cinemas on July 11 and begins streaming on Netflix on July 14.
  • Bolsonaro is on trial for his role in attempting to overturn the 2022 election after refusing to concede defeat.
  • On July 7, President Trump took to Truth Social to condemn Bolsonaro’s treatment and demand he be left alone.
  • Costa uses archival footage and interviews to examine the erosion of Brazil’s democratic checks and balances and draw connections to U.S. political polarization.