Alexis Bloom (CATCHING FIRE: THE STORY OF ANITA PALLENBERG) returns to our screens with a meticulously constructed and excoriating documentary about Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. The documentary accuses him and his wife of gross and long-standing corruption, grifting jewellery and other perks from donors eager for favours. It further argues that once these accusations became a criminal investigation, and Bibi was seen as beyond the pale by the centre right parties in the country, that he had an incentive to go further and further to the right to keep his hands on power. She argues that his ultra-right nationalism is not necessarily authentic but a cheap, insincere means to an end. Moreover, leaked interrogation tapes show that Bibi himself had a hand in keeping Hamas in power because he didn't want the two Palestinian territories - one under Hamas and one under Fateh - to link up. The documentary argues that this strategy of enabling Hamas AND stoking up of religious hatred had a direct hand in the appalling October 7th terrorist attacks. And that once those attacks occurred, Bibi had a convenient reason to further cling to power.
The documentary excels in intercutting the interrogation tapes of Bibi and his wife. Bibi is all charm and charisma and blustering persuasion. By contrast his wife is far more strident and entitled and off-putting. Neither seems to have any shame or guilt. They seem to think leading Israel is their right. We also get the benefit of insight from a number of talking heads from the Israeli establishment, including most damningly the former head of the Israeli intelligence service, Shin Bet. All are united in thinking Bibi a leader who is both criminal in the literal sense, but also the moral sense, of dragging Israel into an extreme right position that cannot result in a peaceful and thriving Israeli state.
THE BIBI FILES has a running time of 115 minutes. It played Toronto 2024 and was released in the USA and UK last December.
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