True-crime documentaries have seen a rise on Netflix in the last few years, but it looks like the tide has changed as the streaming platform focuses a little more on crimes that are non-violent in nature. If you recently watched How to Rob a Bank and enjoyed it, there’s something new in store for you, and yes, we are talking about Nelma Kodama: The Queen of Dirty Money.
This latest documentary features Nelma Kodama herself, and she’s at the center of it all, describing her life, luxury, and crimes. It’s definitely a different yet interesting documentary that had us intrigued from the very beginning. In this review, we will talk a little more about Nelma Kodama: The Queen of Dirty Money, and more particularly what worked versus what didn’t work for this documentary!
Nelma Kodama Lives to Tell the Tale
More often than not, documentaries based on crime have interviews from those who either knew the criminal, or those who reported the crimes, and of course, those who worked on the case. However, Nelma Kodama: The Queen of Dirty Money sets itself apart from the rest as the person who appears the most in this documentary is Nelma Kodama herself.
Frankly, this documentary feels less like a documentary and more like a work of fiction and can easily be compared to Brazilian crime shows. But these elements are exactly what makes Nelma Kodama: The Queen of Dirty Money so unique.
With a runtime of 94 minutes, you will never find yourself getting bored at any point, and you can thank the director, João Wainer, and Kodama herself, who leaves no stone unturned while telling the story of her life.
Kodama is now out of prison after being locked up for being an infamous black-market currency trader, who was involved in some of the biggest corruption scandals in all of Brazil. As Kodama sits in front of the camera, dressed in her best clothes, holding her dog, and talking about how much she loves jewelry, the documentary does a brilliant job of creating a jarring effect when they reveal her ankle monitor that is tracked by the police, as well as clips of her in prison, wearing an orange suit.
The contrast between the two versions of her might be poles apart, but the essence of Kodama remains the same in both, elevating the direction and just how this documentary has strung the series of events together.
Kodama’s life and lifestyle out of prison will have your eyes wide, but the true intrigue lies in all her financial crimes over the years. Netflix could do with more such documentaries from time to time that show criminals out of prison and how their lives have changed for better or worse.