Up closemaybe too closewith julian assange laura poitras, who recorded the edward snowden leak in citizenfour, returns with her latest documentary, risk. But the biggest switch is the addition of poitras voice, via periodic readings from her. Director laura poitras and producer brenda coughlin discuss their documentary risk after the north american premiere at closing night art of the real festival. In the new documentary risk, oscarwinning filmmaker laura poitras grapples with unexpected contradictions about julian assange and wikileaks. Risk grimly fascinating laura poitras documentary is engrossing as a study of ego, with contradictions that have become the story share on twitter opens new window. We can close the door, says julian assange at the beginning and the end of risk, laura poitras longgestating and capital i important documentary about the wikileaks founder and international. She lives in new york city poitras has received numerous awards for her work, including the 2015 academy award for best documentary feature for citizenfour, about edward snowden, while my country, my country received a nomination in the same category in 2007.
On april 9, 2017, showtime released a trailer for the film, executive produced by sam esmail and set to be released in the summer. Documentary film written and directed by laura poitras about the wikileaks founder julian assange. Laura poitras zeroes in on julian assange and wikileaks in the compelling, elusive risk. Wikileaks attorneys blast citizenfour maker laura poitras. Jacob appelbaum laura poitras julian assange sarah harrison lady gaga. Laura poitras 2016 this is not the film i thought i was making. Risk is a messy, ambitious portrait of wikileaks founder. Culture film features risk s laura poitras on her new julian assange documentary, chelsea manning and being under surveillance. Every time julian assange appears in laura poitrass new documentary, risk, theres a distinct impression of his quiet thrill at being on camera. Sure, its the latest documentary from academy awardwinner laura poitras, but its also about wikileaks.
Peripatetic filmmaker laura poitras never imagined that risk, her followup to the demanding oscarwinning edward snowden documentary. Laura poitras wants to make one thing absolutely clear. Rounding out the new releases, the bleeder lionsgate, 15 is a gritty, greasestained 1970s boxing biopic, the familiar. Risks laura poitras on her new julian assange documentary, chelsea manning and being under surveillance. We are the producers of risk, a documentary film about julian assange and wikileaks. Risk is a messy, ambitious portrait of wikileaks founder julian assange laura poitras began filming the man known for cyberreleasing classified documents in. In risk, the radical chic of julian assange reaches its. Risk 2017 t 1h 31m documentaries filmmaker laura poitras shines a dramatic light on wikileaks founder julian assange, one of the most controversial figures of the early 21st century. In the documentary risk laura poitras, who won an academy award for the 2014 film citizenfour, reveals a complicated portrait of julian assange the. Julian assange helps laura poitras tell his complicated story in the revelatory documentary risk the oscarwinning director crafts an unsettling portrait of wikileaks and its founder.
Watch a trailer for risk, laura poitras s julian assange documentary. Laura poitras, academy awardwinning director of citizenfour, returns with her most personal and intimate film to date. Director laura poitras and producers brenda coughlin and yoni golijov published an opinion piece in newsweek on june 16, 2017. Even so, it feels unfinished in a way that is at once.
Risk, laura poitras s new documentary, was first shown at the cannes film festival last may and has been updated since then. The oscarwinning director made her name with the edward snowden revelations. Wikileaks lawyers sharply criticize laura poitras documentary risk by david walsh 19 may 2017 four lawyers for the antisecrecy organization wikileaks issued a joint statement may 17. Every time julian assange appears in laura poitras s new documentary, risk, theres a distinct impression of his quiet thrill at being on camera. Even if youre sick of julian assange, go see this new. Grant lamos ivgetty images in october 2014, the new yorker published an article suggesting that assange had grown disillusioned with poitras. Citizenfour director laura poitras leaves field of. Laura poitras on julian assange, wikileaks, gender, and power variety. What the laura poitras documentary risk says about. Filmed over six years, risk is a complex and volatile character study that collides with a high stakes election year and its controversial aftermath. We are speaking out because we believe that laura poitras s film risk, released in u. Risk, laura poitras documentary about wikileaks founder julian assange, is what happens when an artistactivist invests her passions in a ravaged cause. By continuing to browse this site, you agree to this use.
A survival guide for living under total surveillance. Risk is muddled, complicated peek into julian assanges. Julian assange doc only scratches surface of controversy oscarwinning documentarian laura poitras got plenty of access to the wikileaks founder, but a full portrait remains. Risk is a 2016 american documentary film written and directed by laura poitras about the. Theres a smoking gun in risk, laura poitras scrappy, tossedtogether documentary about hanging out with julian assange, although it has nothing to do with leaked documents or scurri.
She still admires julian assange despite everything that has happened. It was screened in the directors fortnight section at the 2016 cannes film festival. In response, the films producers wrote an oped saying wikileaks was attempting to censor the film. Laura poitras confused, superficial documentary about julian assange and wikileaks by david walsh and joanne laurier 11 may 2017 laura poitras new documentary, risk.