This passionately angry doc (with incredible access) proves that partisan politics is a human thing, NOT just a USA thing...and I can't decide if that's a relieving or disheartening.
177 Reviews
A great review of our history, although not an imparcial one
lvcca19 June 2019
It's beautiful to get to see a brazilian-produced documentary about brazilians, made with such responsible care throughout decades of filming.
What lacks in this film, I think, are basically two things. Not in production or structure, in any way, but in narrative.
At the same time that Petra's perspective of brazilian society adds to the experience of the movie, like her interesting backstory and presence in important political moments (awesomely shown), I feel like a certain degree of a clearer impartiality would really benefit the story that is told. Of course that, being a personal telling of Brazil's history like this movie is, will inevitably include opinions, which are fairly presented. But I can't help but to think that watching a little more of the other side of the political scandals, against the subjects of the film for example, would really be of benefit - not only to the movie to be it's best and completest version it can be (by showing how complicated "choosing a side" can be), but concomitantly inviting a wider public that can watch and rate it fairly, and discuss more easily by having both sides widely expressed.
The second lacking, in a way, is the proposal of many unanswered questions. Probably it is intentional. Maybe by the fact that the story told in this documentary isn't yet completed in reality, and most of the questions are still unanswerable today; or maybe because of the willingness of the director to portray this political scenery in a personal way, proposing that the narrator wants to show it hasn't means to respond to what will happen. Either way, some answers would enrich, I think, the narrative.
Being a Brazilian myself, with a burning love for cinema, getting impressed by the quality of filmmaking and real moments, portrayed in a production from where I come from, was a really awesome feeling - although this film has a bit too much filming of Brasilia's buildings and beauty-shots. The technical aspects of the film are impressive, even more by the content of rare moments of our recent history - a feeling of "being there" I don't get since watching Poitras' Academy-awarded "Citizenfour".
It's really worth it to watch this film, even if you disagree with the points presented. To admire the handling of a great filmmaker, that has great patience and structure to tell a perspective. This movie is a bright sign in the future of brazilian cinema.
What lacks in this film, I think, are basically two things. Not in production or structure, in any way, but in narrative.
At the same time that Petra's perspective of brazilian society adds to the experience of the movie, like her interesting backstory and presence in important political moments (awesomely shown), I feel like a certain degree of a clearer impartiality would really benefit the story that is told. Of course that, being a personal telling of Brazil's history like this movie is, will inevitably include opinions, which are fairly presented. But I can't help but to think that watching a little more of the other side of the political scandals, against the subjects of the film for example, would really be of benefit - not only to the movie to be it's best and completest version it can be (by showing how complicated "choosing a side" can be), but concomitantly inviting a wider public that can watch and rate it fairly, and discuss more easily by having both sides widely expressed.
The second lacking, in a way, is the proposal of many unanswered questions. Probably it is intentional. Maybe by the fact that the story told in this documentary isn't yet completed in reality, and most of the questions are still unanswerable today; or maybe because of the willingness of the director to portray this political scenery in a personal way, proposing that the narrator wants to show it hasn't means to respond to what will happen. Either way, some answers would enrich, I think, the narrative.
Being a Brazilian myself, with a burning love for cinema, getting impressed by the quality of filmmaking and real moments, portrayed in a production from where I come from, was a really awesome feeling - although this film has a bit too much filming of Brasilia's buildings and beauty-shots. The technical aspects of the film are impressive, even more by the content of rare moments of our recent history - a feeling of "being there" I don't get since watching Poitras' Academy-awarded "Citizenfour".
It's really worth it to watch this film, even if you disagree with the points presented. To admire the handling of a great filmmaker, that has great patience and structure to tell a perspective. This movie is a bright sign in the future of brazilian cinema.
Very emotional and personal perspective
WanderleyG20 June 2019
The documentary offers a very intimate view on the events surrounding the last decade of Brazil's democracy.
It shows some background on the historical political forces that dominate the country but fails to present a broad perspective of the context. It's clear though that this was never the objective when the narrator presents itself with her views. The documentary does very good at reminding us and offering a more static showcase of the ongoing forces that threatened democracy in an attempt to circumvent investigations and save themselves.
I had more expectations related to the informative content as I'm a native myself and the actual playtime of the documentary being a bit long but i won't say I'm frustrated.
I concluded it's a good resumé for foreign audiences to understand the current events in Brazil and a very intimate display of the effects of a political crysis in a borderline democracy.
It shows some background on the historical political forces that dominate the country but fails to present a broad perspective of the context. It's clear though that this was never the objective when the narrator presents itself with her views. The documentary does very good at reminding us and offering a more static showcase of the ongoing forces that threatened democracy in an attempt to circumvent investigations and save themselves.
I had more expectations related to the informative content as I'm a native myself and the actual playtime of the documentary being a bit long but i won't say I'm frustrated.
I concluded it's a good resumé for foreign audiences to understand the current events in Brazil and a very intimate display of the effects of a political crysis in a borderline democracy.
A personal yet solid narrative of a global phenomenon
rbmoraes23 January 2020
This movie is a very personal account of Brazil's latest years of democracy. The narrative is beautifully constructed, interweaving past and more recent footage of what becomes the director's memories - it's actually narrated by her, as if she was showing someone a photo album or as if she was recounting a dream (or a nightmare, you decide).
Some people will say it's a biased, leftist portrait of events. Others will say it portrays the lamentable political coup that led to presidents Dilma Rousseff's impeachment and Lula's imprisonment and the rise of the far-right politics in Brazil.
Maybe both sides are right. It portrays a contemporary yet not domestic phenomenon: the pollarization of politics - the divergence of political attitudes to ideological extremes - which seems to be happening in different parts of the world (see the U.S.A, for example).
On a personal note, this movie touched me deeply and I couldn't help but think that politics no longer (if ever) means to serve society, but personal interests. Politcs has become a disclosed, shameless power play. And how does the population witness it? Some people stopped thinking about purpose and started rooting for the players.
In that sense, this movie is about dreams: it doesn't matter who wins. If we don't start making smart choices, everyone's going to lose. I just hope people wake up in time.
Some people will say it's a biased, leftist portrait of events. Others will say it portrays the lamentable political coup that led to presidents Dilma Rousseff's impeachment and Lula's imprisonment and the rise of the far-right politics in Brazil.
Maybe both sides are right. It portrays a contemporary yet not domestic phenomenon: the pollarization of politics - the divergence of political attitudes to ideological extremes - which seems to be happening in different parts of the world (see the U.S.A, for example).
On a personal note, this movie touched me deeply and I couldn't help but think that politics no longer (if ever) means to serve society, but personal interests. Politcs has become a disclosed, shameless power play. And how does the population witness it? Some people stopped thinking about purpose and started rooting for the players.
In that sense, this movie is about dreams: it doesn't matter who wins. If we don't start making smart choices, everyone's going to lose. I just hope people wake up in time.
Undressing a coup
samiromp10 February 2020
Great
fhenrike20 June 2019
Haters gonna hate. Some people that are rating with the lowest score (I bet most of them didn't even watched the film) just make the point for the foreign audience of how polarized Brazil it is right now. Petra did a great job by condensed the political situation of the country from the last decade with her personal and also analytical view.
Democracy's demise
thesuf14 August 2019
This is a such a well made documentary on Brazil's politics. Being non-Brazlian myself, I went into this documentary knowing literally nothing about Brazil's modern political history, aside from hearing the names of Lula and Dilma mentioned in the news occasionally. So this was a very enlightening film for me. My only criticisms are the length of the film, but with the material the makers were running with I seriously doubt they could've shortened it down at all. Also the narrator's hypnotic tone was making it hard to keep focus. All in all, I highly recommend this film not only as an educational experience but also for everyone to realize that we all live in an age where political games are being played against voting publics across the globe, and sadly this is not confined to specific countries anymore. Wishing the people there much prosperity in the years to come.
Another great work by Petra Costa
adacunhapora21 June 2019
Petra Costa is perhaps the best documentary director in Brazil. Her debut is the masterpiece Elena, a very personal look to her sister. The Edge of the Democracy, her third feature, is another kind a monster. A political one, to be exat, in which she narrates the oddly "democratic" impeachment of president Dilma Roussef.
Costa's talent is to make simple footage (either from stock and original shots) into sheer cinematic strenght. A rare gift, I might add.
Costa's talent is to make simple footage (either from stock and original shots) into sheer cinematic strenght. A rare gift, I might add.
Deeply worrying.
grifepisode10 February 2020
The Edge of Democracy (2019) - 7.1
Bonnell72 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Act 1 - 7.1
Act 2 - 6.8
Act 3 - 7.5
Strong film that gives an insight into the democratic history and major events going on in Brazil as we speak
Social and political injustices and corruption across the board and shows once again that where there is power there is corruption
Film does give a biased view on the side of the workers party but I agree with them wholeheartedly
Some personal connections and insight from the filmmaker adds to the experience
Pieces together nicely to give the whole picture of the political scene and climate i the country
A timely piece showing yet another place in the world that is divided by policies and has the I'm right you're wrong mentality with no middle ground
Call to action to fight for what you believe in
Film can drag at times and be a bit convoluted at times
Interesting film that is worth the watch for educational purposes
Opens with Brazil divided by ex president Lula who did something illegal
One president impeached and one in prison, democracy of the country is in trouble
Also personal story about the filmmaker/narrator, born into a military dictatorship that soon after became democratic
Lulu helped revolutionize the country for the common man and overthrow the dictatorship
Lula creates the workers party and loses his his first 3 presidential campaigns but wins in 2002 after compromising
Brought hope to the country but instantly corruption arises
Turns on his own ideals to stay in power with the corrupt
Did help the country grow greatly in wealth, education and social programs
Dilma is the successor to Lula and becomes president in 2010
Costa, the filmmaker, gives insight into her parents fighting for the country to grow and change for the better
Lula left office with 87 percent approval rating navies he did make the country so much better
Dilma's Vice President was from the other party which has brought problems to the country
Archive footage pieced together to make the film
June 2013 rise of the people in Brazil that started as a revolt against risen bus fares into pure division in the country with mixed messages and confusion
Dilma challenges the banks interest rate against her country and the economy slows down and protests rise
Dilma creates anti corruption laws that soon investigates Petrobras and it's connection to corrupt politicians and politicians get arrested
Divides the country and causes Dilma's downfall but still gets elected again but her opponent leads the public in a want to impeach her as he can't take the loss
Right wing groups spread on social media and the media normalizes the protests and the country goes into a recession and government approval rate drops to 9 percent
Lula being dragged making him look guilty in connection to the corruption but no evidence is found
Lula becomes Dilma's chief of staff
Man in charge of investigating corruption is abusing his power and a phone call is leaked and people turn against Lula
See Costa's first footage she filmed herself in a protest
Country torn in half and people fight ideals on the street, no longer civil, a I'm right you're wrong mentality, like USAs current divide
Lula's nomination is blocked by a judge
A timely piece of film on division and no intelligent conversation to find a middle ground
Dilma delayed payments to the banks which was illegal just have to decide wether of not it is an impeachable offense
Cunha leads the lower house against Dilma after not getting what he wants
Costa gets first hand footage of the modern day events
Set up a wall outside of congress on the grass to separate the two sides during protest
Costa's family is connected to both sides, fight for freedom and the establishment
Political madhouse watching it all go down on TV
Congress votes to impeach Dilma and the proceedings will start
Temer becomes interim president
Interesting subject matter but narration and film itself can get boring
Leaked conversation reveals that they impeached Dilma to stop the corruption investigations that would have targeted many of the congress members, was a coup
Dilma faces her critics in the trial in congress
The people just want someone to fight for them that truly cares, want to be heard
Car Wash investigation goes public and connects Lula to many people who have been found to be corrupt
Lula agrees to questioning to follow law but refutes all allegations as there is no hard evidence
Lula sentenced to 12 years in prison by the investigators who also work as the judges, not impartial or fair in the slightest
Temer conversation leaked to hush money payments, more actual evidence of the interim president breaking laws
Conhu sentenced to 15 years who came after Dilma
Vote not to investigate Temer even though he was caught breaking law, crazy
Protests start for Temer now, endless cycle of corruption and an unhappy people
Lula must turn himself in after appeals fail and serve his time for the apartment bribery charges with no concrete evidence
People watch on as their spiritual leader gives one last speech to continue fighting for their ideals, beautiful speech
Bolsonaro elected president 6 months later
Some disposable images of people in the street
Democracy is only working when the rich fee threatened, great quote, means you are fighting for the people
Film ends with questions about who we are as a people
.
Act 2 - 6.8
Act 3 - 7.5
Strong film that gives an insight into the democratic history and major events going on in Brazil as we speak
Social and political injustices and corruption across the board and shows once again that where there is power there is corruption
Film does give a biased view on the side of the workers party but I agree with them wholeheartedly
Some personal connections and insight from the filmmaker adds to the experience
Pieces together nicely to give the whole picture of the political scene and climate i the country
A timely piece showing yet another place in the world that is divided by policies and has the I'm right you're wrong mentality with no middle ground
Call to action to fight for what you believe in
Film can drag at times and be a bit convoluted at times
Interesting film that is worth the watch for educational purposes
Opens with Brazil divided by ex president Lula who did something illegal
One president impeached and one in prison, democracy of the country is in trouble
Also personal story about the filmmaker/narrator, born into a military dictatorship that soon after became democratic
Lulu helped revolutionize the country for the common man and overthrow the dictatorship
Lula creates the workers party and loses his his first 3 presidential campaigns but wins in 2002 after compromising
Brought hope to the country but instantly corruption arises
Turns on his own ideals to stay in power with the corrupt
Did help the country grow greatly in wealth, education and social programs
Dilma is the successor to Lula and becomes president in 2010
Costa, the filmmaker, gives insight into her parents fighting for the country to grow and change for the better
Lula left office with 87 percent approval rating navies he did make the country so much better
Dilma's Vice President was from the other party which has brought problems to the country
Archive footage pieced together to make the film
June 2013 rise of the people in Brazil that started as a revolt against risen bus fares into pure division in the country with mixed messages and confusion
Dilma challenges the banks interest rate against her country and the economy slows down and protests rise
Dilma creates anti corruption laws that soon investigates Petrobras and it's connection to corrupt politicians and politicians get arrested
Divides the country and causes Dilma's downfall but still gets elected again but her opponent leads the public in a want to impeach her as he can't take the loss
Right wing groups spread on social media and the media normalizes the protests and the country goes into a recession and government approval rate drops to 9 percent
Lula being dragged making him look guilty in connection to the corruption but no evidence is found
Lula becomes Dilma's chief of staff
Man in charge of investigating corruption is abusing his power and a phone call is leaked and people turn against Lula
See Costa's first footage she filmed herself in a protest
Country torn in half and people fight ideals on the street, no longer civil, a I'm right you're wrong mentality, like USAs current divide
Lula's nomination is blocked by a judge
A timely piece of film on division and no intelligent conversation to find a middle ground
Dilma delayed payments to the banks which was illegal just have to decide wether of not it is an impeachable offense
Cunha leads the lower house against Dilma after not getting what he wants
Costa gets first hand footage of the modern day events
Set up a wall outside of congress on the grass to separate the two sides during protest
Costa's family is connected to both sides, fight for freedom and the establishment
Political madhouse watching it all go down on TV
Congress votes to impeach Dilma and the proceedings will start
Temer becomes interim president
Interesting subject matter but narration and film itself can get boring
Leaked conversation reveals that they impeached Dilma to stop the corruption investigations that would have targeted many of the congress members, was a coup
Dilma faces her critics in the trial in congress
The people just want someone to fight for them that truly cares, want to be heard
Car Wash investigation goes public and connects Lula to many people who have been found to be corrupt
Lula agrees to questioning to follow law but refutes all allegations as there is no hard evidence
Lula sentenced to 12 years in prison by the investigators who also work as the judges, not impartial or fair in the slightest
Temer conversation leaked to hush money payments, more actual evidence of the interim president breaking laws
Conhu sentenced to 15 years who came after Dilma
Vote not to investigate Temer even though he was caught breaking law, crazy
Protests start for Temer now, endless cycle of corruption and an unhappy people
Lula must turn himself in after appeals fail and serve his time for the apartment bribery charges with no concrete evidence
People watch on as their spiritual leader gives one last speech to continue fighting for their ideals, beautiful speech
Bolsonaro elected president 6 months later
Some disposable images of people in the street
Democracy is only working when the rich fee threatened, great quote, means you are fighting for the people
Film ends with questions about who we are as a people
.
One-sided and biased
pezevenchiul20 May 2020
I'm not brazilian, but you don't have to be one or an expert in their politics to see that this is not a documentary, but an agitprop piece. At best this could be considered simple voter emotional journey, but for this you have ignore the director history and family connections, the production company and Netflix distribution.
The movie is standard propaganda so I'll just focus on the issues I personally see with Brazilian politics, from the perspective of a guy living in a former communist and currently corrupt ridden country: * People always have the leaders they deserve, * Nationations are different and democracy is not suited for all, not even for first world nations. Just look at history of democracy around the world, * Brazilian people are too emotional and "messianic" in mentality order to have democracy. Political parties are like religions there and you can see this from how little of the discussions here are on values, principles and rights, * Idealism is self-defeating and utopia is never a vote/revolution away. Real change takes a lot of work and time, generations, * Politicians are not saviours, the best they can do is to leave you alone, * Corruption is human nature, and comes in different forms, material but also ideological, * Between military dictatorship and communism I would choose the first :)
The movie is standard propaganda so I'll just focus on the issues I personally see with Brazilian politics, from the perspective of a guy living in a former communist and currently corrupt ridden country: * People always have the leaders they deserve, * Nationations are different and democracy is not suited for all, not even for first world nations. Just look at history of democracy around the world, * Brazilian people are too emotional and "messianic" in mentality order to have democracy. Political parties are like religions there and you can see this from how little of the discussions here are on values, principles and rights, * Idealism is self-defeating and utopia is never a vote/revolution away. Real change takes a lot of work and time, generations, * Politicians are not saviours, the best they can do is to leave you alone, * Corruption is human nature, and comes in different forms, material but also ideological, * Between military dictatorship and communism I would choose the first :)
With real scenes it coundn't be fake news
esantosbravo25 June 2019
The movie shows the underground, the backstage of the last years of political Brazilian scenario. The journalist that directed the documentary correlates facts, interviews, historical news in a way that we can conclude that it was a coup. Like senator in a legal and official phone call recorded by federals: "we need a great national agreement".
If you decide to watch, take your conclusion. Enjoy the movie, it's a good one.
If you decide to watch, take your conclusion. Enjoy the movie, it's a good one.
Nice cinematography but suffers from a very immature understading of politics
jose-cruz5322 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The good: very nice cinematography on the sets and great panoramic takes of Brazilia, the capital city of Brazil. Gives an almost chronological overview of recent Brazilian political developments. I really liked the interviews of some nice people like Janaina and shows beautiful shoots of the people on the streets.
The bad: It is extremely biased politically, at the same level of Leni Riefenstahl's propaganda movies for the National Socialist German Workers Party in the 1930s. This documentary is a work of propaganda for Lula and his (heavily criminally charged) Workers Party. The movie explicitly defends the condemned criminal of Lula, while claims any opposition to his authoritarian government, which ruled with the iron first of institutionalized bribery to control the houses of Congress and keep opposing parties under his thumb, is an attack on "democracy". It reminds me of when Xi Jinping claims China is a democracy, and then he suffocates anything he sees as a threat to his power.
Lula has ruled Brazil for 14 years. During this period he destroyed the independence of most other competing political parties by buying then with institutionalized bribery programs, paid for with the money from state corporations such as petrobras as well as private contractors (in exchange for profitable contracts). Lula used the power of local strongmen in the poorest parts of Brazil to buy millions of votes to stay in power forever in the executive (himself or his puppets such as Dilma and Haddad) while the legislative was kept under control of the executive through bribery. The name of the situation where a certain organization takes control of a power of the State and suffocates other powers and institutions is dictatorship: Lula's government was as democratic as the military dictators that preceded him. His government was similar to Putin in its methods. But, unlike Putin's case, eventually the police found out this instituinalized system of political bribery (mainly because it became too big to hide while Brazil still had some institutions outside of Lula's control) and Lula's party was impeached from power, gradually yielding the power back to the Brazilian people, representing the return of democratic norms, which were consolidated in the elections of 2016 and 2018.
She eventually claims that Lula and his cronies were somehow corrupted by the evil system of Brazilian politics. As if she were completely unaware that Lula's party is a Marxist Leninist party, an ideology which believes in the idea of violent revolution, and the stablishment of a dictatorship of the "proletariat". They never were democrats! Which is proven by the fact that they do not recognize the legitimacy of any other political position.
As in the fact she, as a proper Marxist radical, paints the impeachment of Lula's puppet as an attack on "democracy". At the same time she demonizes all politicians from outside Lula's party because they disagree with her. Apparently she is not aware that democracy is based on the dialogue of different political positions.
For example, she demonizes Brazil's current president, Bolsonaro, who is perhaps the most popular politician in Brazilian history, who managed to earn 58 million votes without campaign money and any political support in his first presidential run, by portraying him as some sort of (poorly defined) virulent threat to "democracy". It is true that, so far, his government has not been the most competent, but it already achieved a quantum leap in democratic participation vis previous governments based on bribery and authoritarian ideologies.
But I understand where her point of view comes from: she, being a member of the elite, has suffered the political brainwash that is performed on most elite Brazilians at school. So she rationalizes everything into a simplistic narrative of "good" (Lula) versus "evil" (anybody who disagrees with Lula). This simplistic populism is in my opinion the biggest political problem confronting Brazil.
The bad: It is extremely biased politically, at the same level of Leni Riefenstahl's propaganda movies for the National Socialist German Workers Party in the 1930s. This documentary is a work of propaganda for Lula and his (heavily criminally charged) Workers Party. The movie explicitly defends the condemned criminal of Lula, while claims any opposition to his authoritarian government, which ruled with the iron first of institutionalized bribery to control the houses of Congress and keep opposing parties under his thumb, is an attack on "democracy". It reminds me of when Xi Jinping claims China is a democracy, and then he suffocates anything he sees as a threat to his power.
Lula has ruled Brazil for 14 years. During this period he destroyed the independence of most other competing political parties by buying then with institutionalized bribery programs, paid for with the money from state corporations such as petrobras as well as private contractors (in exchange for profitable contracts). Lula used the power of local strongmen in the poorest parts of Brazil to buy millions of votes to stay in power forever in the executive (himself or his puppets such as Dilma and Haddad) while the legislative was kept under control of the executive through bribery. The name of the situation where a certain organization takes control of a power of the State and suffocates other powers and institutions is dictatorship: Lula's government was as democratic as the military dictators that preceded him. His government was similar to Putin in its methods. But, unlike Putin's case, eventually the police found out this instituinalized system of political bribery (mainly because it became too big to hide while Brazil still had some institutions outside of Lula's control) and Lula's party was impeached from power, gradually yielding the power back to the Brazilian people, representing the return of democratic norms, which were consolidated in the elections of 2016 and 2018.
She eventually claims that Lula and his cronies were somehow corrupted by the evil system of Brazilian politics. As if she were completely unaware that Lula's party is a Marxist Leninist party, an ideology which believes in the idea of violent revolution, and the stablishment of a dictatorship of the "proletariat". They never were democrats! Which is proven by the fact that they do not recognize the legitimacy of any other political position.
As in the fact she, as a proper Marxist radical, paints the impeachment of Lula's puppet as an attack on "democracy". At the same time she demonizes all politicians from outside Lula's party because they disagree with her. Apparently she is not aware that democracy is based on the dialogue of different political positions.
For example, she demonizes Brazil's current president, Bolsonaro, who is perhaps the most popular politician in Brazilian history, who managed to earn 58 million votes without campaign money and any political support in his first presidential run, by portraying him as some sort of (poorly defined) virulent threat to "democracy". It is true that, so far, his government has not been the most competent, but it already achieved a quantum leap in democratic participation vis previous governments based on bribery and authoritarian ideologies.
But I understand where her point of view comes from: she, being a member of the elite, has suffered the political brainwash that is performed on most elite Brazilians at school. So she rationalizes everything into a simplistic narrative of "good" (Lula) versus "evil" (anybody who disagrees with Lula). This simplistic populism is in my opinion the biggest political problem confronting Brazil.
Highly partisan view
eduardo-uchoa5 February 2020
Some still believe in the illusion that if a documentary only uses real scenes, then it speaks the truth. This film is proof that with some ability to choose what to show and what to hide it is possible to tell ANY story. I am saddened by foreign viewers who will only have access to this highly partisan view of Brazil. And I'm sad for Brazilians who still won't have the necessary reflection to understand how we ended in the Bolsonaro disaster.
Backstage of the coup
kellylla18 January 2020
Beautiful documentary that shows, in a crude way at the same time intimate, how Brazilian politics works behind the scenes. The delicacy and courage in mixing family facts, an intimate look intertwined with the History of Brazil deserve to be highlighted in this one, which certainly deserved all the international recognition and respect. Hoping to win the Oscar!
Brazil is not for amateurs
aleferreira197219 June 2019
Great doc. It helps us understand the complex political scene in Brazil, specially the sequence of events that led president Dilma Roussef to be impeached. Trust me: I live in Brazil. I know that is very difficult to make one good film about this theme nowadays. Ten stars, no doubt!
EUA's Latin coups from séc XIX... TODAY!
kakatua_ogy18 January 2020
Documentary Review
biancadearaujonogueira20 June 2019
Documentary extremely important to our perception of democracy and how it has been elitist and oligarchic in Brazil. The Documentary presents facts, and makes us realize how recent history unfortunately tends to follow and perpetuate the old models. It causes reflection on the importance of democratic acts, on the construction of self-opinions, and on how we are still vulnerable to being induced by the medium and a numerically small but great perceive of privileges. My sincerest congratulations to the entire production.
It's a fascinating and important subject, but the narrative is muddled and facts are sparse
andrewroy-0431617 January 2020
For a documentary with such an engaging topic, it's strange that you leave the film feeling like you don't know many details of what actually happened.
Brazilian political history is rife with corruption and controversy. As democracy and more socialist government programs rise under Lula and his successor Dilma (though their actual policies and stances are one of the many elements not pinned down by the film), a right wing movement rises in opposition, culminating in impeachment of Dilma and imprisonment of Lula. As a call to action and frustration with corruption and unjust politics, it's fairly convincing, but that's because it shows little of the real views on either side. We see the weak accusations levied against Dilma and Lula, and we get a bunch of random, seemingly uninformed random people giving their two cents, but we never hear the real reasons behind the right-wing fight against them or much of what Dilma and Lula did in office. The cinematography also varies enormously in aesthetic between a personal, handheld narrow perspective which makes the political events more engaging, and a series of wider shots of protests and the city of Brasilia which are pretty but don't match the tone of the film. While the director's personal views are abundantly clear and her anger comes through, there is little nuance or substance in the view. I'm inclined to agree and love Lula and Dilma, but a film about political movements has to have more information in it. It's shocking how mediocre and unaffecting the film is for how fascinating I find the subject and am inclined to share the views of the director.
Brazilian political history is rife with corruption and controversy. As democracy and more socialist government programs rise under Lula and his successor Dilma (though their actual policies and stances are one of the many elements not pinned down by the film), a right wing movement rises in opposition, culminating in impeachment of Dilma and imprisonment of Lula. As a call to action and frustration with corruption and unjust politics, it's fairly convincing, but that's because it shows little of the real views on either side. We see the weak accusations levied against Dilma and Lula, and we get a bunch of random, seemingly uninformed random people giving their two cents, but we never hear the real reasons behind the right-wing fight against them or much of what Dilma and Lula did in office. The cinematography also varies enormously in aesthetic between a personal, handheld narrow perspective which makes the political events more engaging, and a series of wider shots of protests and the city of Brasilia which are pretty but don't match the tone of the film. While the director's personal views are abundantly clear and her anger comes through, there is little nuance or substance in the view. I'm inclined to agree and love Lula and Dilma, but a film about political movements has to have more information in it. It's shocking how mediocre and unaffecting the film is for how fascinating I find the subject and am inclined to share the views of the director.
Chaotic Documentary
evanston_dad24 February 2020
A chaotic documentary about the wave of populism in Brazil that swept in a Trump-like president and has ushered in an era of extreme religious conservatism.
"The Edge of Democracy" is clearly meant to be a warning to the world about this kind of populism that is happening everywhere -- about how easily it can happen and the blows it can make to social progress. But the film is too frenzied and literally difficult to follow, which blunts its impact. If you don't already have a working knowledge of the key players and events covered in this film, you might find yourself struggling to keep up, as I did.
Grade: B
"The Edge of Democracy" is clearly meant to be a warning to the world about this kind of populism that is happening everywhere -- about how easily it can happen and the blows it can make to social progress. But the film is too frenzied and literally difficult to follow, which blunts its impact. If you don't already have a working knowledge of the key players and events covered in this film, you might find yourself struggling to keep up, as I did.
Grade: B
Full of lies!!!
eligorniak4 February 2020
People of world, outside Brazil, just a big warning: This movie is full of lies! The perspective is pro corrupts, thieves and people that have transformed Brazil in a playground for those that assaulted our money! The PT - workers party - is the great responsible for the caos in economy, healthy and safety fields that the current govern is trying to solve! Don´t believe in everything in this movie before checking the truth with others Brazilians! Google for judge Sergio Moro´s decisions, like ex-president Lula is a condemned for serious robbing process!!! This movie was designed to convinced people that the impeachment was a fraud, but truly was a way to take off power from bad people and put them in jail!!! A great great great movie full of LIES!!!!
Course is Personal
koguh95 February 2020
And which fight isn't?
Not totally accurate, but you see history there.
As it tends to happen in Latin countries, where power comes in underlight shapes in a pretty small batch of untouchable true, there is no other way for commoners only feel all was and is truly fearful.
There is a misconception that Brazil is a country like its fellow friends from the North. It is not. It is still subjugate by history and limitless power like its brothers from the south.
It is a well-done cinematography and personal a point of view of a wacky historical political moment in history.
Someone just had to do it. And someone did.
Not totally accurate, but you see history there.
As it tends to happen in Latin countries, where power comes in underlight shapes in a pretty small batch of untouchable true, there is no other way for commoners only feel all was and is truly fearful.
There is a misconception that Brazil is a country like its fellow friends from the North. It is not. It is still subjugate by history and limitless power like its brothers from the south.
It is a well-done cinematography and personal a point of view of a wacky historical political moment in history.
Someone just had to do it. And someone did.
Very well produced, impartially.
wenderson_wfc6 April 2023
I didn't want to see an unbiased documentary, don't think you won't see it either, this one is pretty biased and with reasons that are explained in the first moments. Production is great. Great. There is nothing to say about this aspect. As for the story told, the dictatorship really was hell. But the emergence of the PT involves many crimes that are not mentioned in the documentary, crimes like bank robbery, kidnapping, extortion... Unfortunately, we are very poorly represented in Brazil politically, both by the right and by the left. And the versions of the stories that both sides tell are only the ones they like. So this documentary is great (technically) for knowing the side of the story told by the left, but don't forget: There are always two sides of the coin... and this is just one of them.
This is a one-sided opinion piece, not a documentary.
felipe-baez3 February 2020
A documentary film is a non-fictional, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education, or maintaining a historical record".
If you watch it from the perspective that this is a one-sided opinion piece and not a documentary, you'll enjoy it a lot more than if you take this as an account of the actual historical facts.
As a documentary, the film starts exploring a certain subject in the film but completely fails to show the 'big picture' or even the whole story. I will use a fictitious example to convey how the documentarian approached this film. It's like reporting "Man has been arrested while sitting in his own couch at home" and continuing "...the police aggressively broke down his door and yanked in out of the couch.", but the problem being that the documentarian left behind the rest of the reason why he was being arrested "...sitting in front of his wife's corpse, holding a knife with blood all over his hands and clothes. The neighbors heard the screams and called the police". If a documentarian uses just the former "Mas has been arrested..." headline, they are failing to tell and document the actual story.
In this case, the documentarian is (in my fictitious example) one of the man's best friend and want to make sure the audience knows the man by other means and not be defined by the fact he murdered his wife.
I try as much as possible to not get involved in politics but when it comes to documenting history, I can't stay silent and say there's a lot of things missing on this docufiction.
If you watch it from the perspective that this is a one-sided opinion piece and not a documentary, you'll enjoy it a lot more than if you take this as an account of the actual historical facts.
As a documentary, the film starts exploring a certain subject in the film but completely fails to show the 'big picture' or even the whole story. I will use a fictitious example to convey how the documentarian approached this film. It's like reporting "Man has been arrested while sitting in his own couch at home" and continuing "...the police aggressively broke down his door and yanked in out of the couch.", but the problem being that the documentarian left behind the rest of the reason why he was being arrested "...sitting in front of his wife's corpse, holding a knife with blood all over his hands and clothes. The neighbors heard the screams and called the police". If a documentarian uses just the former "Mas has been arrested..." headline, they are failing to tell and document the actual story.
In this case, the documentarian is (in my fictitious example) one of the man's best friend and want to make sure the audience knows the man by other means and not be defined by the fact he murdered his wife.
I try as much as possible to not get involved in politics but when it comes to documenting history, I can't stay silent and say there's a lot of things missing on this docufiction.
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