Filmmaker Alex Gibney has curated a list of 25 films that shed light on the United States under the current administration, describing the moment as dire. In an introduction to the list, Gibney warns of an opportunity for wealthy individuals to dismantle safeguards against unfettered capitalism, enacted since the Roosevelt era. He criticises a vengeful president and the influence of Elon Musk's wealth, likening the power of money to a gun.
Gibney reflects on the role of art in political change, citing Salman Rushdie's words: 'We can sing the truth and name the liars.' He acknowledges that films cannot instantly change laws but can act as a 'slow-motion timebomb' in the audience's psyche. His documentary 'The Crime of the Century' aimed to reframe the opioid crisis as an intentional crime for profit, not a natural disaster.
The filmmaker announces two upcoming projects: 'The Dark Money Game,' a diptych about dark money and white-collar crime, and a film about Elon Musk exploring why society allows his actions. Gibney compares his work to Chekhov's principle of the gun on the mantel, seeking to uncover the origins of societal crises.
Among the 25 films is 'American Factory,' an Oscar-winning documentary about a Chinese-owned factory in Ohio, highlighting the clash of labour practices in a globalised economy. Gibney emphasises the need for films that engage with darkness while reaffirming humanity, noting that history is a pendulum that can swing back.
