As a seasoned documentary enthusiast with a particular interest in politics and international affairs, I found “The Bibi Files” to be a gripping and timely piece of work. The film’s focus on the corruption allegations against Benjamin Netanyahu, combined with its intimate portrayal of key Israeli figures, makes for a compelling narrative that sheds light on a complex and contentious situation.
Following an unsuccessful effort by the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent it, the creators of the anti-Netanyahu documentary titled “The Bibi Files” pressed ahead on Monday evening, premiering their work at the Toronto International Film Festival with a blend of determined resilience and joyful victory.
Alexis Bloom’s movie presents an argument against the long-standing Israeli prime minister using previously unseen interrogation videos. At certain moments, it felt like a rally for those who are critical or biased against Netanyahu and Israel.
One Israeli audience member suggested, “We should figure out a method to distribute this movie over Israel via air drop,” they commented following the screening. However, given the increasing number of protesters on Tel Aviv streets after six Israeli hostages were killed, it appears that the message may have already been communicated.
The documentary titled “The Bibi Files” was created by award-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney. Gibney, along with Bloom, made efforts to screen the work at Toronto due to the continuous conflict and sorrow it has caused on every side, given the ongoing war.
Each day, people are losing their lives, and our intention was to create a powerful impact with this movie,” is one way to paraphrase the original quote in natural and easy-to-read language.
In an ongoing process of refining and expanding the document, Bloom stated that while her work has gained renewed importance following the Hamas’ invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023 and the subsequent war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, she initially began working on it during the judicial-reform protests in Israel that started in early 2023. “You can observe a recurring pattern globally, this democratic regression,” she commented about the catalyst of these protests. Bloom has previously delved into these topics with her 2018 film about Roger Ailes titled “Divide and Conquer” and her production of Gibney’s film on Wikileaks, “We Steal Secrets“.
Last week, the head programmer of the festival, Thom Powers, arranged for the screening of a film about Netanyahu, considering it held a significant message regarding the current turmoil in the Middle East.
After the movie ended and viewers rose to cheer, approximately a group of twelve individuals displayed placards advocating for a truce and a prisoner exchange. Prior to the screening on King Street, demonstrators vocalized chants in Hebrew, urging for fresh elections, a ceasefire, and a hostage agreement.
The movie hasn’t secured any distribution agreements as of now, but Gibney is hopeful that screenings at the festival will help with this.
The Bibi Files emerged following an anonymous tip-off to Gibney about confidential interrogation recordings last year. These recordings were previously unseen within Israel (although portions of their content had been leaked to textual journalists), and it is unlikely they will ever be publicly disclosed officially, as a privacy law poses potential legal risks for the source.
Although the privacy law supposedly affects Israel alone, Netanyahu’s legal team asked Judge Oded Shaham in his corruption trial to prevent the Toronto screening because the movie was subject to the statute internationally. However, Judge Shaham declined to immediately halt the film, enabling Monday’s showing and another on Tuesday, but requested responses from key parties by Wednesday.
The Bibi Files
The specifics of Netanyahu’s corruption allegations, the impact of his wife Sara and the alliance with extreme-right politicians are familiar topics for those who keep up with Israeli politics. However, the image of Israel’s most prominent contemporary leader, finding himself under investigation by police in his office, where he can be seen at times playful, other times indignant, and frequently defiant, may leave a particularly unfavorable impression.
The film offers unprecedented glimpses into the lives of prominent Israeli figures from various walks, including Arnon Milchan, a longtime ally of Netanyahu and Hollywood producer, as well as Yair Lapid, the current opposition leader in Israel’s government (who was once Finance Minister under Netanyahu). They discuss their knowledge about alleged corruption in an unusually open setting reminiscent of interrogation rooms. The cast also includes Sara Netanyahu, who appears more irate and vocal than her husband, and Yair Netanyahu, a right-wing influencer who refers to the investigators as “the Stasi.” These additional characters complete the portrait.
In this film, the investigative journalist Raviv Drucker, known for his criticisms against Netanyahu, serves as the primary narrator and key figure. Additionally, the movie gains perspective from a 19-year-old Israeli woman residing in Kibbutz Be’eri, who offers a strongly anti-Netanyahu standpoint based on her experiences.
One attendee on Monday voiced a reminder that Netanyahu hasn’t been officially declared guilty yet, urging caution before passing judgment without a verdict.
Although “The Bibi Files” doesn’t cover the recent protests and ends with Netanyahu’s speech to Congress this summer, its circulation may contribute to the escalating demand among many Israelis for a ceasefire, hostage release deal from Netanyahu, as well as a new government. A poll conducted by Israel’s Channel 12 last week indicated that over two-thirds of Israeli citizens believe Netanyahu should not participate in the upcoming election.
Just like any documentary, it’s worth pondering if the movie will foster new perspectives or merely validate existing opinions.
Gibney, at least, believes it could bring new clarity for international audiences.
This conflict persists endlessly for many Americans, and there’s widespread curiosity about why it doesn’t cease,” he shared with the TIFF crowd. “I believe one motivation for making this film is to clarify numerous events that we now perceive as being tainted by the moral decay of a single individual.
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2024-09-10 09:25