Apocalypse in the Tropics, a new documentary by Petra Costa, the Oscar-nominated director of The Edge of Democracy. The film premiered on Netflix on July 14. The trailer released on June 30, 2025 offered a first look at the documentary, which features never-before-seen interviews with key figures in Brazilian politics, including the current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former President Jair Bolsonaro, and evangelical leader Silas Malafaia.
Narrated from the filmmaker’s perspective, the documentary begins with an in-depth investigation into the rise of the evangelical faith in Brazil and its impact on the country’s political and social landscape over the past ten years, highlighting the role of evangelical leaders in shaping national political decisions.
Brazil is now ruled by the centre-left President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Lula) and far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro ruled before him from 2019 to 2023. Though Bolsonaro is not in power, the shadow of mix of religion and politics is not easy to erase. The Hollywood reporter comments, ” A riviating account of how evangelism becomes a major threat to democracy.”, a scenario reflected in other countries also.
The documentary was premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival in 2024 and featured at other international film festivals, Apocalypse in the Tropics is written and directed by Petra Costa, with production by Petra Costa and Alessandra Orofino. The film opened in theaters in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro on July 3, and launches globally on Netflix on July 14, 2025.
About Apocalypse in the Tropics:
SYNOPSIS: In Apocalypse in the Tropics, Petra Costa investigates the growing influence of evangelical Christian leaders on the country’s politics. With exclusive access to renowned figures such as President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former President Jair Bolsonaro, and famous televangelist Silas Malafaia, the filmmaker explores the significant role that the evangelical movement has played in Brazil’s recent political upheaval. As in her Oscar®-nominated The Edge of Democracy, Costa documents a period of tremendous uncertainty with clarity and a poetic eye. Weaving together past and present, the film takes us through the contradictions of a young and fragile democracy, offering a portrait that resonates far beyond Brazil’s borders. (Netflix Media)
Director
Petra Costa is a Brazilian filmmaker whose work ranges from the intimate to the political, exploring themes such as memory, identity, democracy and trauma. Founder of the production company Busca Vida Filmes, she is the director of Elena (2012), Olmo and the Seagull (2015, co-directed with Lea Glob) and The Edge of Democracy (2019), nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary. Her films, which have been shown and won awards at festivals such as Venice, Sundance, Locarno and IDFA, combine hybrid, poetic and essayistic language, making cinema a space for listening, invention and resistance. With a degree in Anthropology from Barnard College, Columbia University, and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics, Petra articulates a deeply personal vision with investigations into contemporary Brazil and its historical wounds.(https://www.buscavidafilmes.com/pt/apocalipse-nos-tropicos)
Producer
Alessandra Orofino is the Executive Director of Peri, a media company focused on stories that matter. She is an expert in mass communication and large-scale mobilization, with extensive experience in grassroots mobilization and development of impactful products for television and cinema. She co-founded NOSSAS, where she was Executive Director, created and directed the Greg News program, and is the producer of the documentary directed by Petra Costa. Alessandra serves on the Board of three organizations with a strong focus on cultural strategies and storytelling: the Luminate Foundation, the Meliore Foundation, and ICCI. Finally, she is a Fellow of the Obama Foundation and received the Skoll Prize for Social Innovation in 2022. (https://www.buscavidafilmes.com/pt/apocalipse-nos-tropicos)
We have not yet seen the documentary so no review. Once we see the documentary a review is likely. It is streaming on Netflix.
