Brazilian Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro met actor Jim Caviezel at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on Nov. 5. Caviezel is set to play Flávio’s father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, in the biographical film “Dark Horse.” (Foto: Instagram)
Brazilian Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro met U.S. actor Jim Caviezel on Thursday, Nov. 5, at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump’s club and property in Palm Beach, Florida. Caviezel is set to portray former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in the biographical film “Dark Horse.”
The encounter was recorded by Flávio’s brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, a former congressman whose mandate was revoked. In video Eduardo shared on social media, Flávio and Caviezel greet each other briefly. Eduardo described the meeting as taking place at Mar-a-Lago.
Both men were attending events connected to the Conservative Political Action Conference’s annual gala dinner, held at Trump’s club. Flávio was among those expected to speak at the gathering, which brings together representatives of the U.S. conservative movement and international political leaders.
Caviezel gained international recognition for playing Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson’s 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ.” He also starred in “Sound of Freedom,” a 2023 film about child trafficking that drew significant attention among conservative groups in the United States. In “Dark Horse,” he plays Jair Bolsonaro. The film is directed by U.S. filmmaker Cyrus Nowrasteh, with the screenplay and production associated with Brazilian lawmaker Mario Frias. The project was announced as a biographical film inspired by events in Bolsonaro’s life.
The financing of “Dark Horse” is under investigation by Brazil’s Federal Police. Flávio is being investigated in a Supreme Federal Court inquiry into suspicions of money laundering, illegal foreign exchange transactions, corruption, and other possible crimes related to raising money for the production. Justice André Mendonça authorized the inquiry, which involves discussions between Flávio and Daniel Vorcaro, the former controller of Banco Master. According to information gathered by police, Flávio took a direct role in negotiations to raise funds for the film.
The inquiry concerns a transfer of 61 million Brazilian reais attributed to Vorcaro to finance the production. Eduardo is also a target of the investigation, with authorities identifying him as a possible beneficiary of some of the funds. Police documents describe Flávio as Vorcaro’s direct interlocutor in the negotiations and also identify Eduardo’s involvement in structuring the film’s financing. Some of the money may have been sent to a U.S. investment fund called Havengate Development Fund.
Flávio denies wrongdoing. He says he sought private investors to finance the biographical film about his father and maintains that the negotiations involved no improper benefits. Since conversations with Vorcaro became public, Flávio has also characterized the investigations as political persecution.
