Democracy in Danger nominated for an Oscar exposes the war of versions in Brazil

Shakhar28

The Elm and the Seagull co-directed with Lea Glob surpassed the film circuit becoming an event thanks to the strategy adopted by the directors for its promotion: a video broadcast on social networks in which celebrities claim the right over their bodies integrating thus a series of mobilizations of women articulated on the networks screens and streets of the country that became known as the feminist spring. If we consider that in cinema has suffered the harshest setbacks since the neoliberal government of Collor de Mello - responsible for the production blackout in the early s - we can have the dimension of the "Democracy in danger" effect. It is no coincidence therefore that it was Petra 's turn and her film produced by the streaming giant Netflix to represent Brazil at the Oscars.

Democracy” recovers some aspects and points out directions that Petra had not traveled in previous works. The film shares an intimate and autobiographical structure with Elena. But here the director's voice is mixed with other voices of anonymous and CXB Directory famous Brazilians in the turbulent period that includes since the protests of June massive movements in the streets of the country after the announcement of the increase in transportation rates. buses in the city of São Paulo to the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff. Family records are also mixed with historical records not only from that period but also from the construction period of the capital Brasilia and the military dictatorship with emphasis on the metalworkers' strike of led by the then union leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva a figure who embodies the political ideal not only of the director but of her parents.



Beyond constructing its narrative from archival material the film itself constitutes a historical record and the director shows the ability to reflect on history as it happens. Petra has access to intimate images of former presidents Lula and Dilma at key moments: we see the celebration of the election results by PT members we see close friends showing solidarity with Lula inside the metalworkers union headquarters. before his arrest. There is also a record of conversations between President Dilma and Petra's mother Marília Costa both former militants who were imprisoned in the same prison during the s between opponents and supporters of Dilma during the impeachment process first images captured by the director who drew her attention to the seriousness of the situation and an enlightening conversation with the officials in charge of cleaning the palace during the presidential change in .