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| Petra Costa: Apocalipse nos Trópicos / Apocalypse in the Tropics (BR/US/DK 2024). |
Language: Portuguese.
Festival premiere: 29 Aug 2024 Venice.
Viewed at Le Pierre, Telluride Film Festival (TFF), 31 Aug 2024.
In person: Petra Costa interviewed by Mark Danner.
Mark Danner (TFF 2024): "In her extraordinary study of Brazilian politics and religion, director Petra Costa reminds us that “apocalypse” means not the end of the world but “unveiling, uncovering what is covered.” She tells a story of the evangelical forces taking over Brazilian politics, with a focus on the charismatic pastor Silas Malafaia, whom she dubs “The Kingmaker.” In 2019, Malafaia helped bring Jair Bolsonaro, the so-called “Trump of the Tropics,” to power. With unprecedented access, Costa introduces the viewer to Dominionism, the belief that religion should take over the “seven mountains” of the contemporary state. Brazil once proudly modeled progressive ideals; now, it’s torn by spiritual warfare between the moderate left and a reactionary front led by Evangelical pastors, who have already succeeded in putting one of their number on the Supreme Court. Costa, director of Oscar-nominated THE EDGE OF DEMOCRACY, has created a film with undeniable resonances of politics in the U.S. and beyond." –Mark Danner (Brazil-U.S.-Denmark, 2024, 110 min)
AA: Petra Costa's magisterial documentary Apocalypse in the Tropics is one of the key films of the year.
In her opening remarks, Petra Costa dedicated this screening to Tom Luddy who inspired her ten years ago, also by sending her photographs of Tarkovsky in Telluride.
Apocalypse in the Tropics is an electrifying epic documentary about Brazil's fateful progress between democracy and autocracy / theocracy, fuelled by the formidable new political force of Evangelicalism.
Costa covers the mighty movements of Brazil in stunning crowd scenes and amazing aerial shots. Even more moving are her candid interviews with the major players. Jair Bolsonaro is open and transparent about his goals and methods. The big revelation of the movie is the astounding influence of the televangelist Silas Malafaia, also jovially on display in in-depth interviews. Lula da Silva cooks some coffee for Petra Costa and lets us witness his human touch at close range.
The film is divided in chapters. In the prologue we learn that the spread of Evangelicanism of the Silas Malafaia school is the fastest religion change of all times.
In Chapter I The King-Maker we get acquainted with the Anti-Feminist Club of Silas Malafaia, on a warpath against "Cultural Marxism and the Frankfurt School". "Brazil above all - God above everything".
In Chapter II God in the Time of Cholera we see shocking epic scenes of the pandemic casualties. Over 700.000 died of Covid in Brazil, the second highest death toll in the world. The footage of the graveyards is stunning. On the soundtrack: J. S. Bach: Violinkonzert E-Dur BWV 1042, Adagio, with the most heartbreaking violin solo ever composed (the long continuous melody line of Trauerarbeit). The theme of the Apocalypse is introduced. A central place in the faith of the Evangelicalists has the final book of the Bible - the book of Revelations (Apocalypse) - the foundation book of the new creed. War leads to peace and freedom as Messiah comes to save us.
In Chapter III Dominion the protagonist is Silas Malafaia whose tv sermons have been dubbed into 120 languages worldwide. The pastor is a media oligarch, influencer and cultural warrior. He stands for Prosperity Gospel, fights for a Christian state / theocracy and against abortion law and queer rights, his net worth is USD 150 million. His popularity is "thanks to the left", "Glory to God". In his mass revivalist meeting people are speaking in tongues, including Michele Bolsonaro.
In Chapter IV Genesis we go to the roots of this movement - Billy Graham's crusade against Communism. His was a manichean battle of Communism vs. Christianity. The original sin of today was Communism - "the Ghost of Communism" according to Petra Costa. The fear of the Ghost gave the excuse to repression in a society designed to keep the people poor. One of the most stunning passages in the movie is an archival clip of a Billy Graham revival meeting at Brazil's largest sport stadium. Against Billy Graham rose Liberation Theology with figures such as Ernesto Cardenal, the compassionate Jesuits. Kissinger warned Nixon that the Catholic Church was no longer a reliable ally. We follow Lula's imprisonment under Bolsonaro's regime and his release when the corruption of justice is exposed. "The first step is to kill democracy" when the military coup is in recent memory. But despite loud "authorize" [military intervention] choruses, Lula leads in all polls and is re-elected.
In Chapter V Holy War Bolsonaro keeps trying to demonize Lula as a "Candomblé Catholic". I missed the end of the movie due to an overlap with the next screening. I need to revisit it at the earliest instance.
As Petra Costa said in her opening remarks, this film about Brazil is equally about the United States. Billy Graham inspired the authoritarian movement of Silas Malafaia / Jair Bolsonaro, which in turn has inspired the Donald Trump / U.S. Evangelicalist union. Last week, Trump declared that he had found a new ally: God.
The "drill, baby, drill" agenda is also consistent with the emphasis on the Book of Revelations. We sin, destroy, burn the rain forest, ignore indigenous rights and splurge on fossil fuels, but Jesus saves us in the end to a better world.
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Petra Costa interviewed by Mark Danner in Film Watch 2024, the Telluride Film Festival magazine.
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