Brazilian film 'Dark Horse' on Bolsonaro faces election‑propaganda lawsuit

The feature film "Dark Horse," a dramatized biography of former president Jair Bolsonaro, has drawn intense scrutiny in Brazil. The screenplay includes a fictional crime boss nicknamed “Cicatriz,” whose lack of a visible scar has sparked media commentary.

Separately, recordings released by The Intercept Brasil reveal that Senator Flávio Bolsonaro negotiated a US$24 million (about R$134 million) transfer from businessman Daniel Vorcão to fund the movie. Jurists and a federal deputy have asked the Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (TSE) to halt the film’s release before the election, arguing it may constitute illegal corporate financing and early electoral propaganda, which Brazil’s election law forbids.

Legal analysts debate whether the film’s distribution counts as explicit vote solicitation or protected artistic expression. The Federal Police are also probing a US‑based Havengate account that allegedly received part of the funds, with at least US$2 million routed through it. The controversy highlights tensions between campaign‑finance regulations, freedom of speech, and the political use of cultural productions in Brazil’s upcoming elections.