
Evangelicalism Influences Politics in the Initial Trailer for Petra Costa’s Apocalypse in the Tropics
Even more disturbingly relevant than when I first viewed it at the New York Film Festival last fall, before the recent surge of Trump-led fascism, Petra Costa’s Apocalypse in the Tropics clearly examines how evangelical Christianity is intertwined with Brazil’s far-right political landscape. The latest documentary from the director of Elena and The Edge of Democracy is set to premiere at DOC NYC Summer Selects on July 9 before its global release on Netflix on July 14. In anticipation of its debut, the first trailer has been released.
The synopsis reads: "When does a democracy end, and a theocracy begin? Apocalypse in the Tropics explores the increasing influence that evangelical Christian leaders have over Brazilian politics. By intertwining history and the present, the film reflects on broader global implications."
Luke Hicks stated in his review, "Five years, the closest presidential election in Brazilian history, and one insurrection following her previous analysis of Brazil’s tumultuous socio-political landscape, Petra Costa—the talented documentarian behind Elena and The Edge of Democracy—focuses on Jair Bolsonaro, the radical evangelical right that helped him secure the presidency in 2018, and the theocracy they are collectively working to establish. With Costa’s almost unrestricted access to key figures in contemporary Brazilian politics, the events of Apocalypse in the Tropics essentially unfold in real time—a thrilling, impactful documentary horror."
Watch the trailer below.
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Evangelicalism Influences Politics in the Initial Trailer for Petra Costa’s Apocalypse in the Tropics
Even more alarmingly pertinent than when I initially viewed it at the New York Film Festival last autumn, before the emergence of the new wave of Trump-led fascism, Petra Costa’s Apocalypse in the Tropics clearly examines the inextricable link between evangelical Christianity and Brazil’s far-right political movement. This latest documentary from the creator of Elena and The Edge of Democracy will soon be available on DOC.