THE BIBI FILES
US, 2024, 115 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Alexis Bloom.
There is only one BiBi, Israel’s Prime Minister since 1996, Benjamin Netanyahu. Here is a documentary made by reputable directors and producers, director Alexis Bloom and Oscar-winning, prolific producer and director of so many telling documentaries, Alex Gibney. They are offering 115 minutes of intense scrutiny of Benjamin Netanyahu.
The film was in production prior to the Hamas attack and its massacre of Israeli citizens, taking of hostages, October 7, 2023. The reduction continued then until July 2024, incorporating the attack, the war on Gaza and the consequences. Audiences will watch the principal issues of the film with their perspective on Netanyahu and his handling of the situation in Israel and Gaza.
The film is highly critical of Netanyahu, the focus on the charges of corruption, interrogations, witnesses, testimonies, and the preparation of the trial. However, with the war, Netanyahu has no time for a trial – with many critics, including Israelis, stating that he is using the war and its prolonging, as a means of avoiding trial and imprisonment. In fact, Benjamin Netanyahu did not what this film to be released.
There are flashbacks to Netanyahu’s inauguration as prime minister in 1996 as well as his surprise victory for a fourth term in 2015.
But, the focus is on the issues of corruption, statements from witnesses reminding audiences that politicians should not accept gifts, perception of bribes, of undue influence for outcomes. The film surprises its audience with so many sequences in Netanyahu’s office, quite small, two officials interrogating the Prime Minister at some length and in great detail, particular episodes and contacts, Netanyahu preferring to say acquaintances, social acquaintances rather than friends, the listing of the range of gifts over the years and their financial value, the implications of the gifts and the consequences.
One of the first witnesses interrogated is the movie producer, Arnon Milchan, his career, contacts with Netanyahu, visa issues, his being a go-between for those wanting personal contact with Netanyahu. And his connection with gifts, especially for Netanyahu’s wife, supportive of her husband over the years, very influential on him, also being seen interrogated, as also their son, Yair, who identifies with the right wing.
The film is hosted by Raviv Drucker, speaking straight to camera and to us, a credible and persuasive compere, analyst. And he has quite a number of talking heads, substantial interviews with them at some length, including childhood friends of Netanyahu, his press manager whom d he enounces in his testimonies, advisers to previous politicians speaking of political integrity, and former Prime Minister, extremely forthright in his criticisms, Ehud Olmert.
It is very evident in the film sequences that Netanyahu frequently states that he does not remember situations, but that critical witnesses referred to his accurate memory. And, his commentary on most of the witnesses against him is the frequent repetition of “Lies”. Then there is the issue of the plans to change the judiciary, favouring his legal situation, and the enormous protests in Israel against the proposed changes.
As well, there is the focus on the two members of the Likud, extreme right views, seen in speeches and actions, and the Arabs, wanting possession of the West Bank…
Then the Hamas attack, some very graphic scenes presented here, the destruction of Gaza and the many deaths, also some graphic scenes. A young Israeli survivor, aged 20, is interviewed, the deaths she witnessed of friends, but her response to the events of the war, calling it not a war but a massacre.
There are scenes of the release of hostages, and Netanyahu and his wife greeting them, despite criticisms of his slowness and lack of effort to have further hostages released. Then there is a repetition of his mantra “total victory”, and his speech to the U.S. Congress, for total victory and their upstanding applause.
With the war and the determination of total victory and the support of the right wing, the incursions into Lebanon, subduing of Hezbollah, issues with Iran, audiences will have their opinions on Netanyahu in 2025. However, whatever the outcome of the war, the accusations against Benjamin Netanyahu over the decades for corruption still remain.
