Apocalypse in the Tropics; Documentary; Netflix; 1:48; Director Peter Costa
After the 2019 ‘Edge of Democracy’, Peter Costa’s ‘Apocalypse in the Tropics’, is simply chapter by chapter chronology of Far-Right Christian evangelist Bolsonaro’s ousting Left-leaning President Lula, then becoming President, and then Lula ousting him in the October, 2022 Presidential election.
While, to the naïve, the documentary is a political treatise on what happened in Brazil during the troubling and polarising period till Bolsonaro’s defeat in 2022, the documentary is actually a potent study of the toxic, or rather lethal, result of religion taking over politics.
Religion as ideology is what Peter Costa studies through the prism of Bolsonaro’s craft, a combination of Jesus, money, social media, majoritarianism and power politics. Of course, the significant political influence of Pentecostal pastor and televangelist Silas Malafaia, was a truism.
This template that engulfed Brazil, could well be suitable for any country. Today, there is no dearth of countries passing through similar happenings in Asia and Europe. The separation of the state and church or a secular dispensation, is what is a disdain.
The documentary chapters – The Kingmaker, Dominion, Genesis, God in the time of Cholera, and Revelations, are the different stages of Brazilian politics. A gripping tale, visible in many countries today. Just change the geography and players.
If the Bible is an ideology, so can another religion’s book be, is seen often the case today. The book can be replaced by a god or a combination of a religious book plus revised faith teachings laced with high-tech actions. Fits well, what Marx famously said opium of the people.
Forget food security, forget minorities, forget the indigenous people, forget the marginalised, forget the environment, forget wages, and the message – suffer on Earth to enter heaven…
As one interviewed cleaner says, she wants to vote for Lula, but the Gospel pushed her to Bolsonaro.
The pandemic is denied and 700,000 died, the second highest in the world, the documentary tells us. The ordeal seemed to be never ending.
Lula spends 571 days in the prison on alleged corruption charges, is released by the court, and contests the next Presidential election to defeat Bolsonaro, and you see scenes in Brasília, similar to later what happens at the White House after Trump-1 defeat.
Today, Bolsonaro is in prison for attempted coup against elected Lula. Upset with this, Trump-2 has threatened 50 % tariffs on Brazil, and Lula has vowed to match 50 % with 50 %. Interestingly, US exports more to Brazil, not vice versa.
What holds for the future of Brazil, and countries with similar pre-Lula type religion-based politics gaining credence. Is religion and politics always bad. What about Liberation Theology, a theological approach that emphasizes the liberation of oppressed people, particularly from poverty and social injustice? Maybe, this depends on how one interprets or uses subjective and objective situations in today’s complex world. Looks, tough.
Costa says,” “We worked on this documentary for four years because we believe the erosion of democracy is the most crucial issue we face,” Costa told Netflix. “In our story, we look at what happens in Brazil as a fable of our times.”
Costa’s co-writers include David Barker, Alessandra Orofino, Nels Bangerter, and Tina Baz. The film is produced by Orofino for Peri Productions, Costa for Busca Vida Filmes in association with Impact Partners, Play/Action Pictures, Luminate, and Plan B/KM Films. Apocalypse in the Tropics is executive produced by Jenny Raskin, Jim and Susan Swartz, Geralyn White Dreyfous, Katrina vanden Heuvel, and Meadow Fund for Impact Partners; Jeffrey Lurie and Marie Therese Guirgis for Play/Action Pictures; Felipe Estefan and Rafael Georges Zein for Luminate; Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner for Plan B Films; Katy Drake Bettner; Kate Hurwitz; InMaat Foundation; Frida Polli; James Costa; and Trevor Burgess. (Tudum)
