Brazil election scandal over Bolsonaro biopic linked to bank fraud

The English‑language biopic "Dark Horse" portrays former president Jair Bolsonaro as an outsider hero and is slated for release before Brazil’s October presidential election. The film stars Jim Caviezel as Bolsonaro and is directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh.

Financing for the movie was provided by businessman Daniel Vorcaro, the former owner of Banco Master, who is now imprisoned for a multibillion‑dollar bank fraud case. Audio recordings released by Brazilian media show Flávio Bolsonaro, Jair Bolsonaro’s son and a presidential candidate, discussing the funding and amounts that could reach $24 million. The scandal has drawn criticism that the film serves as election propaganda and has damaged Flávio Bolsonaro’s campaign, with recent polls showing a shift toward incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Additional details include Eduardo Bolsonaro, another son, listed as an executive producer and the involvement of the U.S. company GoUp Entertainment, which lacks a functional website.