Petra Costa: The Edge of Democracy

Petra is a Brazilian filmmaker whose documentary The Edge of Democracy got released on Netflix today. The Edge of Democracy is a very personal film about the political situation in Brazil, told through the eyes of Petra who witnessed first-hand the rise and fall of her country’s leaders. Her movie reflects a crisis in democracy that’s not only happening in Brazil, but all over the world. As we lose trust in our institutions, we are starting to doubt democracy as the best way to govern ourselves. Some of the core beliefs that held our countries together are being questioned right now. If we defined the concept of the nation state as a community united by those core beliefs and values we share, then are our national communities now breaking apart? Why are we getting further apart from each other? What moves us to extreme, divisive opinions and positions?