Bolsonaro, the Fugitive
Flávio Bolsonaro in Spetember, 2026 -- Agência Senado, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
By Urariano Mota
Regarding Flávio Bolsonaro’s cowardly flight to the United States, many have sought to draw parallels between the fugitive and his cinematic counterparts. But we have already clarified, in passing, that in Bolsonaro’s case, his record is criminal. Another difference is that fugitives in the movies have an ethical motive—never one of cowardice. With the exception of the Nazis.
Of course, the fugitive character has always had a place in literature and cinema. In movies, there are many. Unforgettable in “Bonnie and Clyde”, forever etched in the images of the cangaceiro (outlaw) Lampião. But in literature—without consulting Google—I recall “Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo, with the character of Jean Valjean, who was freed and later went on the run several times. Another example is found in Charles Dickens’ masterpiece “Great Expectations”. Even in Socrates’ refusal—when advised to flee, he replied, “Where can I escape death?” I’m quoting from memory.
I recall that before the great novel, the fugitive became familiar to all Brazilians through the series “The Fugitive”, which we watched with bated breath on television. A quick look at Wikipedia reveals that “The Fugitive”, was an American television series that aired from 1963 to 1967. The series ran for four seasons and consisted of 120 episodes in total. In the story, Richard Kimble, the protagonist, after being convicted of his wife’s murder, escapes from prison and is declared a fugitive.
The TV series was such a huge hit that, during the Brazilian dictatorship, the name “Kimble” became the nickname for the undercover agent Corporal Anselmo, the murderer of many socialist activists, including his partner Soledad Barrett. Corporal Anselmo earned this nickname among his peers in the political repression apparatus.
After the series became a massive hit, the movie “The Fugitive” was released in 1993. What’s interesting is that in the movie, the pursuer is played by actor Tommy Lee Jones. You read that right—Jones. In an unintended twist of irony, it almost seems like a foreshadowing of the Brazilian influencer and politician Janones, who helped secure Lula’s victory in 2026.
However, the TV series “The Fugitive” was better. Sorry. Real life is always better—more than once. In the series, there was a happy ending, as you can see here:
But in real life, it’s a different story. Trump, the complicit host of the Bolsonaros, is expected to lose the midterm elections in the coming days. Therefore, with Trump defeated, the fugitive Flávio Bolsonaro will soon return from his escape. He will be greeted by the Democrats with a new version of “Yankee, go home.” To put it simply, the Brazilian justice system is waiting for the fugitive.
Urariano Mota is a Brazilian writer and journalist, born in Recife on September 29, 1950. He is the author of novels about the horrors of the Brazilian dictatorship, such as “Soledad no Recife” and “Never-Ending Youth”
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