‘Apocalypse In The Tropics’ Trailer: Petra Costa’s Documentary on Christian Nationalism

In her compelling documentary, ‘Apocalypse In The Tropics’, Petra Costa explores the intersection of religion and politics in Brazil, raising critical questions about democracy.

‘Apocalypse In The Tropics’ Trailer: Oscar Nominee Petra Costa Explores the Rise of Christian Nationalism

EXCLUSIVE: When does a democracy end, and a theocracy begin? That’s the key question in Oscar-nominated filmmaker Petra Costa’s urgent new documentary Apocalypse in the Tropics, set to open in select theaters in the U.S. and UK on July 11, and in Brazil this Thursday, premiering worldwide on Netflix on July 14.

Brazil: A Case Study in Christian Nationalism

Costa’s film doesn’t focus on countries like Iran or Afghanistan, where theocratic control is the norm, but rather on her native Brazil, where the separation of church and state is constitutionally guaranteed. This principle, vital to Brazilian democracy and American tradition, faces increasing threats from the rise of Christian nationalism. In this ideology, a vengeful Jesus from the Book of Revelations prepares for battle against his adversaries, willing to spill blood to fulfill God’s will, disregarding secular governance.

We have your first look at the Oscar-contending film in the trailer above.

A Deep Dive into Brazil’s Political and Spiritual Turmoil

“In Apocalypse in the Tropics, director Petra Costa takes us on a decade-long journey through the spiritual and political upheaval of Brazil,” explains a synopsis. “What begins as a search for signs of life in a fragile democracy transforms into a deeper inquiry into the seductions of power, prophecy, and belief. Costa gains extraordinary access to current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former President Jair Bolsonaro, and the nation’s magnetic televangelist Silas Malafaia. More than a chronicle of political change, Apocalypse in the Tropics is a cinematic investigation of the fault lines that emerge when religion fuels political ambition.”

The synopsis continues, “With the savage clarity that defined her Academy Award–nominated The Edge of Democracy, Costa documents a time of kaleidoscopic confusion and fear with intimate observational filmmaking that braids together the personal, the historic, and the mythic. As faith shifts from private refuge to public battleground, Brazil holds a mirror to a world where democracies are being tested by the power of prophecy.”

Global Implications of Christian Nationalism

For anyone who might think the film pertains only to Brazil, consider that Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, is associated with Christian nationalism. Influential Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene shares similar ties. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has tattoos connected to this religious movement. The Supreme Court, with a Christian conservative supermajority, has increasingly allowed religion—particularly Christianity—into the public sphere. Recently, the court ruled that parents could shield their children from public school lessons they object to on religious grounds.

Filmmaker’s Perspective on Christian Nationalism

In a recent interview with Deadline, Costa commented on the Christian nationalist fixation with a violent Jesus who preaches “that you should kill your enemies and destroy your enemies, annihilate your enemies. The marriage between this Christian fundamentalism and the far right is incompatible with democracy because the main principle of democracy is that you have to coexist with your enemy.”

Costa noted, “Even though the United States is the first nation to declare the separation of church and state, it’s also the first to create a deliberate movement to infuse politics with Christianity and mobilize its followers into these culture wars that are now at their apex… When I look at the history of American politics through the lens of what I’ve discovered in making this film, it’s as if the foundation of MAGA and what you’re seeing in Trump’s government now is the moral majority.”

Film Festivals and Release Information

Apocalypse in the Tropics premiered last September at the Venice Film Festival and made its North American debut at Telluride. It has screened at other prestigious festivals worldwide, including San Sebastián, Hot Springs in Arkansas, Camden in Maine, Zurich, IDFA in the Netherlands, CPH:DOX in Copenhagen, Millennium Docs Against Gravity in Poland, Palm Springs, DC/DOX, and many others.

The documentary is written and directed by Petra Costa and produced by Alessandra Orofino and Costa. Watch the trailer for Apocalypse in the Tropics above.