Netflix and Director Padilha are Criticized and Boycotted for Series about Car Wash Investigation

03/27/2018 - 11h10

Netflix has become the target of boycotts and subscription cancellations in Brazil due to the series "The Mechanism", from Director José Padilha, which is based on the so-called Car Wash (Lava Jato) Operation from its initial explosion until the imprisonment of businessman Marcelo Odebrecht.

The main criticisms of the eight-episode production, which was launched last Friday (the 23rd) center around the characters inspired by former PT Party presidents Dilma Rousseff and Lula and the message that is shown before the series and other similar ones begin.

"This program is a work of fiction freely inspired by real events. Characters, situations and other elements have been adapted for dramatic effect."

Netflix and Director José Padilha are accused of misrepresenting facts related to the real investigations in a fictional series. The streaming network hasn't responded to requests for further information regarding the number of subscriptions canceled.

For former president Dilma, the Director is spreading fake news intent on destroying reputations. Some of the criticism leveled by internauts argues that the production has reserved its firepower solely for the PT Party.

Padilha counters that works of fiction have the prerogative for freedom of adaptation and that the public knows this.

The biggest complaint stems from words put into the mouth of the character that portrays Lula, referred to as João Higino in the series. But the phrase, "stanch the bleeding" was actually an expression used by Senator Romero Jucá (MDB-RR Party) in a recorded conversation that was part of an effort to sideline the Car Wash investigation.

"When you dramatize reality, you anchor the drama in some places and not in others. This is true for both documentaries and works of fiction. 'The Mechanism' isn't what has happened in Brazil ipsis litteris. It is inspired by real facts", Padilha explained in an interview with Folha.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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