Assignment Task: The Edge of Democracy (2019)
Question 1: How does Petra Costa strategically use her family stories and personal experience to make larger social and historical commentaries about Brazil's shifting democracy? What are the strengths and/or weaknesses of this approach? Contextualize with examples from the film.
Question 2: Analyze the various stylistic elements and/or cinematic approaches that were used in the Edge of Democracy. How did the use of voice over narration coupled with various types of historical and contemporary footage shape the experience and feeling of the documentary? Provide examples from the film.
Question 3: Unpack and analyze the various forms of corruption and misinformation that occurred during and after the Operation Car Wash scandal that shifted the balance of power in Brazil. How does The Edge of Democracy provide strategic commentary around the fragility of democracy and the ways the public and electorate can be manipulated? Provide examples from the film.