About Lula (it's Portuguese for squid. You know things are good and solid when people kindly refer to politicians as moluscles) I think I know what article you're talking about, it's the one in Times, isn't it?
The thing is, his approval rates are very high on the north and veeeery low in the south. There are even several movements and groups for separation of south from north here, and I do not doubt it can become a conflict. What his government does, is take money from the south where there's the industry and big cities and send it to people from north, where everything is more poor and there are waaay more people. But it does not build schools or create jobs, it simply sends money for people for anything (kid money - the more sons you have the more you get every month, gas money, food money, propane money and school money - wich doesn't take into account if the kid really is in school!). These people barely subsist on agriculture, you offer them benefits, of course they'll take it. Even worse, they're having more children only to benefit more - how much money should raising a baby properly take? These people barely have what to eat!
The movie is intended to improve a little his image here on southern and central Br, where there actually movie theatres for people to watch the movie.
Sounds like a less noble Robin Hood. It's certainly not helpful to just spew money at people who won't spend it on necessities, and obviously harmful to the economy...makes me wonder why he doesn't specify where the money needs to go. I hear unequal distribution of wealth is an issue in Brazil, and with a popular leader supporting such, it's a shame you can't vote in the upcoming election.