Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Edge of Democracy’ on Netflix, an Essential Documentary About Brazil’s Political Turmoil

Access. Netflix documentary The Edge of Democracy is remarkable — and fascinating — for precisely this. Director Petra Costa offers an exemplary point-of-view in her chronicle of Brazil’s recent political turmoil, getting inside the room with presidents and other important figures during key moments in their lives and careers.

THE EDGE OF DEMOCRACY: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: Narrating in solemn tones, Costa opens with a brief summary of recent Brazilian history, and how her personal story is entangled in it. A military dictatorship ruled the country for 21 years before democratic elections took hold in the mid-1980s. Costa’s parents were activists during the 1970s, and spent a decade in hiding or, briefly, in prison.

By the time the filmmaker was born in 1983, the military regime was on its last legs, and the democratic socialist Workers Party had been formed by people like her parents. Lula da Silva, a former steel worker, spearheaded the movement, and eventually became president in 2003. He legislated significant economic reform, implementing Bolsa Familia, a massively popular welfare program for Brazil’s poorest citizens.

Of course, Lula would soften his boldly progressive stance to work with conservative leaders, something Costa notes with some disappointment — you’ll recall the truism that politics, being the art of compromise, ensures that nobody is happy. But his successor would carry on his vision. His former chief of staff, Dilma Rousseff, was elected president in 2010, the first woman to earn the position in Brazil. Dilma’s credibility preceded her: a one-time guerilla fighter, she was captured and tortured under the dictatorship. After Dilma’s campaign declared victory, Costa is in front of the camera, literally dancing in the streets. Costa would eventually introduce her mother to Dilma, because the filmmaker saw significant similarities between them; they were incarcerated in the same prison, albeit at different times.

The rest of this story is familiar to anyone with an eye or ear for recent headlines. During Dilma’s presidency, right-wing factions would take hold, sowing discord and dividing the populace. Costa films citizens arguing on the street; one says life was better under the military regime, and another points out how many people were executed during that time. The filmmaker also reveals how her grandparents founded a construction company in the 1940s, and became part of Brazil’s economic elite — the same type of company that offers significant campaign contributions to politicians in exchange for legislative favors.

Self-interested parties would impeach Dilma for a questionable offense, and indict Lula on shaky corruption charges. She was ousted from office, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison, and Costa’s camera was in the room with them during their moments of defeat. In 2018, Jair Bolsonaro was elected president on a platform of religious rhetoric, pro-gun regulations and an alarmingly cozy view of the military regime — and Costa speaks of her concern for her country’s democratic future in searing tones meant to cauterize her wounds.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: Imagine a documentary blending the firebrand politics of Michael Moore with the sober, pragmatic and philosophical tones of Werner Herzog.

Performance Worth Watching: Costa herself. She’s a talented writer and director with an eye for poetic imagery. Not all documentary filmmakers can insert themselves into their works successfully, but her deeply embedded subjective view on Brazil’s political conundrum is far more fascinating than any objective dive. One can only surmise that this subjectivity afforded her such significant personal access to Lulu and Dilma, but neither does she hold back criticisms of her candidates.

Memorable Dialogue: “Brazil… a country where more slaves died than were born. It was cheaper to import another one from Africa,” Costa says, delivering a litany of brutal, point-blank observations in voiceover at the beginning of the film.

Single Best Shot: Costa indulges in numerous beautifully photographed tracking shots of Brazil’s Federal District and the Presidential Residence. But her camera speaks most profoundly while holding still, capturing the beautiful architecture of the capitol adjacent to a crude fence erected to separate opposing protesters.

Sex and Skin: None.

Our Take: This is a complex story, not easily told, but Costa pulls it off. As with any real-life political narrative, even the slightest lapse of attention might leave you lost in a sea of intricate detail, but Costa intends to provide a mountain of evidence justifying her despondent tone. She captures a portrait of political corruption and extreme polarization that’ll be upsettingly familiar to Costa’s fellow realists, who see Trumpism and Brexit as prime examples of democracy on life support. This is essential viewing.

Our Call: STREAM IT. Is it too bold to say The Edge of Democracy will be on the next Oscar documentary shortlist? I don’t think so.

John Serba is a freelance writer and film critic based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Read more of his work at johnserbaatlarge.com or follow him on Twitter: @johnserba.

Stream The Edge of Democracy on Netflix