The Bad Patriots: Victor Fraga Examines Media’s Role in Political Warfare

In an era of political polarization, filmmaker Victor Fraga challenges mainstream perceptions of patriotism in his latest documentary “The Bad Patriots.” The film examines how media narratives have been weaponized to silence progressive voices, with a particular focus on former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and acclaimed filmmaker Ken Loach.

As the second installment in Fraga’s “Dirty Media” trilogy, following 2021’s “The Coup d’État Factory,” the documentary investigates how British press outlets systematically vilified Corbyn and Loach, branding them as extremists, antisemites, and enemies of the state. According to Fraga, their true transgression was advocating for working-class interests and challenging entrenched power structures.

“Jeremy and Ken are the best patriots because they care about ordinary citizens, instead of engaging in the all-too-familiar flag-shagging rituals,” Fraga explains, rejecting the jingoistic definition of patriotism often promoted by right-wing groups and even the current Labour government.

The documentary draws compelling parallels between media tactics in Britain, Brazil, and the United States, revealing what Fraga sees as a global strategy of politically-motivated suppression through coordinated media campaigns. He argues that mainstream outlets worldwide share similar methods for discrediting socialist politicians and activists.

“The global media likes to paint socialists as extremists,” Fraga says. “Most media groups are owned by billionaires, and they are terrified that a left-leaning government will make them pay their taxes. It’s the same in Brazil, the UK, the US, and pretty much anywhere in the West.”

Fraga developed the project after becoming acquainted with Corbyn while showcasing his previous film throughout the UK. The former Labour leader recognized similar smear tactics to those Fraga had documented in Brazil, leading them to approach Loach and collaborate on “The Bad Patriots.”

The filmmaker takes a critical stance toward patriotism itself, describing it as “a modern construct, exclusionary by nature.” In the documentary, Corbyn offers a more humanitarian definition, characterizing patriotism as “caring about your fellow citizens.” This alternative understanding forms a central theme of the film, which aims to reclaim the reputation of figures Fraga believes have been unjustly maligned.

Regarding Corbyn specifically, Fraga suggests the media hostility stemmed from his openly socialist, republican, and pro-Palestine positions in “an extremely conservative country.” The film includes Corbyn’s troubling revelation that unidentified army commanders had supposedly stated they would refuse orders from him had he become Prime Minister.

The documentary also explores the complex role of social media and alternative news outlets in countering mainstream narratives. Fraga describes social media platforms as “double-edged,” particularly since Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, pointing to algorithmic influence and the Cambridge Analytica scandal as evidence of their problematic nature. He notes that while alternative media outlets have limited influence in the UK, similar platforms in Brazil have successfully shifted public perception toward progressive viewpoints.

Fraga reveals that “The Bad Patriots” itself has encountered censorship, though he declined to provide specific details. This experience reinforces the film’s core message about systematic efforts to silence challenging perspectives.

The documentary’s UK premiere at BFI Southbank on April 29th sold out within three hours, prompting organizers to upgrade to the venue’s largest cinema to accommodate overwhelming demand. This response suggests significant public interest in examining media bias and its influence on political discourse.

Fraga is currently working on the third installment in his trilogy, provisionally titled “The Bad Jews,” featuring an interview with Noam Chomsky as its centerpiece. The filmmaker describes this as one of Chomsky’s final interviews before a stroke left him unable to communicate, adding poignancy and urgency to Fraga’s mission to complete the trilogy.

With “The Bad Patriots,” Fraga invites viewers to question dominant media narratives and reconsider what true patriotism might entail in a democratic society. The film ultimately challenges audiences to examine who controls media discourse—and by extension, who shapes our collective understanding of political reality.