A new short film, Vitória Régia, presents a chilling alternative reality where a far-right coup succeeds in Brazil, leading to the surrender of the Amazon rainforest to the United States. The film, directed by Denis Kamioka (known as Cisma), imagines a 2025 scenario where Jair Bolsonaro's plot to seize power after the 2022 election triumphs, resulting in the assassination of the president, closure of Congress, and transfer of control over the Amazon to Washington.
Plot and Imagery
The story follows Carol, a Brazilian journalist played by Alice Braga, who is barred from entering the rainforest region without a visa. A news blackout prevents details of environmental destruction from leaking, and Indigenous leaders disappear. In one scene, a North American soldier welcomes journalists to the 'Amazon of America' during a propaganda tour of an oil refinery. A replica of the Statue of Liberty carved into the wilderness symbolizes US dominance over more than half of Brazil.
Harold Goldman, head of oil firm Amazon X, celebrates Washington's control over the rainforest's resources. The film's title, Vitória Régia, refers to the Amazon water lily, a symbol used by Indigenous dissidents in the story.
Real-Life Parallels
The film was shot in March 2025, nearly a year before President Donald Trump ordered Nicolás Maduro's abduction as part of a plan to seize Venezuela's oil. Director Kamioka noted the frightening overlap between fiction and reality, saying, 'We were constantly competing with reality.' Braga, an activist for Indigenous and environmental causes, added that the film 'became almost a documentary' after Trump's actions.
The 21-minute movie was made with collaboration from Indigenous networks Coiab and Apib to highlight threats facing Brazil's Indigenous peoples and their struggle to defend traditional lands. Ywyzar Tentehar, an Indigenous actor, said she hopes the film draws attention to ongoing invasions by loggers, ranchers, and land-grabbers in her territory.
Political Context
The Amazon's future remains precarious as Bolsonaro's son, Flávio, prepares to challenge President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in upcoming elections. During Jair Bolsonaro's 2019-23 term, deforestation soared and a gold rush invaded Indigenous lands. Activists fear a return to such destruction if another Bolsonaro wins. Additionally, there are concerns about the potential pardon of those jailed for the failed 2022-23 coup.
In a real-life echo of the film, Flávio Bolsonaro was recently accused of offering the US access to Brazil's rare-earth reserves in exchange for electoral support. Braga urged voters to carefully study candidates to avoid repeating past mistakes.
Hope and Resistance
Despite its dystopian themes, the film incorporates a pop aesthetic and uplifting soundtrack to convey hope. Co-creator Pedro Inoue said the message is not all doom and gloom: Indigenous peoples 'are the past, the present, and the future. They are the ones who have the answers about dealing with the end of the world because they've been dealing with it for more than 500 years.'
Kamioka hopes Vitória Régia serves as an alert about sovereignty, Indigenous resistance, and democracy. 'This isn't a film about a distant future. That's the scariest part. It's about something that's happening right now,' he said.
