As a movie enthusiast who has always been intrigued by documentaries that delve deep into the human psyche and uncover the truth behind powerful figures, I find “The Bibi Files” to be an enticing prospect. Having lived through decades of political turmoil, I can appreciate the significance of a documentary that offers a unique perspective on one of the most influential leaders in recent history.
I’m thrilled to share that I’ve become a part of an intriguing narrative: “The Bibi Files,” a fresh documentary about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This riveting production, co-created by the esteemed Oscar winner Alex Gibney and directed by Alexis Bloom, promises two hours of unparalleled insight. The work-in-progress will be showcased at the Toronto International Film Festival. What makes this documentary exceptional is that it includes previously unseen police interrogation footage of Netanyahu himself.
The audio files were produced from 2016 to 2018 for the purpose of building a case, which aimed to decide whether to accuse the Israeli Prime Minister of bribery, fraud, or misconduct in public office.
In 2023, secret recordings surfaced and were given to Gibney. These recordings contain in-depth conversations involving Bibi (the main subject), his wife Sara, their son Yair, close friends, political associates, and domestic staff members.
According to Gibney, these tapes offer an unparalleled and astonishing glimpse into Netanyahu’s personality. They provide compelling proof of his selfish and morally questionable actions, which, as it turns out, have brought us to our current situation.
Thom Powers, the head TIFF documentary programmer, describes “The Bibi Files” as an exceptional piece of investigative journalism in documentaries. Alexis Bloom and Alex Gibney uncovered previously unseen footage and interviewed a diverse range of individuals, including high-ranking figures within the Israeli government. This work underscores the significance of long-form documentaries in our culture for telling stories that have developed over extended periods. As traditional journalistic outlets face significant budget reductions, independent production companies like Jigsaw Productions are increasingly important to fill this void.
Netanyahu has been charged with fraud, bribery and breach of trust in three cases filed in 2019.
Over the past eight years, extensive interview recordings in Hebrew (amounting to thousands of hours) haven’t been publicly accessible, not even within Israel, owing to the nation’s strict privacy laws.
In Bloom’s opinion, Netanyahu’s personality shines vividly in the recordings. He explains that what sets this documentary apart from news reports or PBS programs about the Israel-Palestine conflict is its intimate portrayal of the individuals behind the headlines.
In a recent interview, Bloom, who has worked with Gibney on projects like “Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes” and “The Story of WikiLeaks (We Steal Secrets),” reveals that their documentary employs the interrogation videos as a means to explore the story of Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-standing leader who has been in office six times, making him the prime minister with the most tenures in the country’s history.
As I delved into the intricacies of this movie, my task was clear: to weave together the interrogations and the corruption trial, tying them to the events that unfold afterward. Interestingly enough, I started working on this project long before the tragic October 7th attacks ignited the prolonged conflict between Hamas and Israel, giving a unique perspective to my role in crafting this story.
“The series titled ‘The Bibi Files’ alternates between Netanyahu’s current and past events, as per Gibney’s assertion. It suggests a Shakespearean quality about the man, implying that his gradual degeneration of integrity and his desperate desire to maintain power drove him to commit actions of great wickedness, which we are now witnessing the evidence for.”
Bloom stated that Netanyahu’s plan for restructuring Israel’s judicial system in 2023 served as a significant factor leading her to participate in the movie.
“She states that (Netanyahu’s administration) is attempting to reform the Supreme Court, which has led to a situation unlike any other if he hadn’t assembled such an unusually extremist coalition.”
Bloom, who has Jewish ancestry and strongly supports Israel’s existence, has frequently traveled to Israel during her childhood and adult years. Both Bloom and Gibney aim to create a documentary that doesn’t cater to any specific group. Instead, they view the film, which highlights only Israeli perspectives, as a powerful truth-telling piece that emphasizes human rights, rather than just focusing on Israeli-Palestinian rights.
Bloom states, “I’ve been searching for shared perspectives within this movie – something we can all concur upon.” A point where both Israelis and Palestinians might find agreement is that Netanyahu has outstayed his welcome. However, they may differ significantly when discussing solutions to the Middle East conflict, a matter on which they will likely have opposing views. Yet, I believe that most individuals, excluding die-hard supporters of Netanyahu, would concur that it’s time for him to step down.”
In light of the ongoing conflict, both Bloom and Gibney chose to present their still-unreleased film at TIFF in its developmental stage.
As a movie enthusiast, I firmly believe that delving into the intricacies of such significant figures, like Netanyahu in this case, is crucial at this juncture. The argument that these discussions can wait because Netanyahu is engaged in a conflict doesn’t hold water for me. We thought it imperative, and indeed our responsibility as global citizens, to share our story without delay, given that lives are being lost daily.
Streamers typically favor celebrity or true-crime documentaries instead of content dealing with complex, controversial subjects or figures, which makes selling the Netanyahu documentary challenging. However, Bloom and Gibney are optimistic that it will eventually find an appropriate platform.
According to Bloom, we’re not proposing solutions regarding the conflict, but rather presenting a depiction of the person (Netanyahu) and his family. He believes that this film is more engaging than many political reports on the subject, so he hopes someone with courage will choose to distribute it.
“The Bibi Files” will screen at TIFF on Sept. 9 and 10.
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2024-09-02 17:17