PROSA Plataforma Cultural presents the second edition of the film series "HANDBOOK FOR ESCAPE FROM A FALSE NARRATIVE". On the eve of the legislative elections, we return with two films that invite critical reflection on the fragility of democracy in the face of mechanisms of narrative manipulation — whether through media or institutional forces.

Democracy is always weakened whenever authoritarian, dictatorial, or autocratic experiments find space to grow. In a world where Trump and Putin shape realities with an iron hand, we should be immersed in a new humanism, one that values freedom, attentive listening, and plurality, with courage and conviction. This cycle is a call toward that path. We should be unanimous in our fight against corruption in all its forms, including those that insinuate themselves vaguely, implicitly, or in seemingly acceptable ways. Any evocation of systems that facilitate or normalize corruption represents an intolerable threat to democratic health.

In this cycle, we affirm that values such as humanism, justice, and an enlightened ethic of knowledge and truth must prevail over the simplistic labels of left, right, or center. In times when the political center sometimes accommodates or bends toward radical paths, it becomes urgent to stand firmly for reason, freedom, and the common good. If in the past television was already an instrument for the construction (and destruction) of narratives, as shown in Network (Sidney Lumet, 1976), today the threat has become broader and more uncontrolled. The spread of disinformation now occurs through digital platforms with fragile regulation, propelled by algorithms, bots, and invisible technologies of manipulation — all at low cost and with enormous impact.

If Network exposes media manipulation as a spectacle for the masses, NO (Pablo Larraín, 2012) delves into a crucial moment where communication becomes a tool for resistance. In Chile, 1988, a bold and creative advertising campaign sought to defeat Pinochet’s dictatorship through a national referendum. The film shows how imagination, language, and a shared hope can disarm fear and pave the way for change. In times of democratic crisis, NO reminds us that creating new narratives — positive, courageous, and inclusive — is one of the greatest acts of political transformation.

Through the selected films, this cycle proposes a reflection on the role of media, advertising, political discourse, and civil society in building a collective awareness capable of resisting false narratives. Cinema remains a powerful tool for thinking the world. And, in this edition, it reminds us once again that preserving democracy is a daily endeavor — of thought, vigilance, and individual responsibility.

(Curatorship of Alexandre Braga)