When talking about exposé-style documentarians, or documentarians in general, you can’t ignore Alex Gibney. Ever since 2005’s Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, he’s been as prolific as he is popular, sparking public interest in everything from the U.S. military’s torture and interrogation practices to the inner workings of Scientology. His newest film, Zero Days, takes on cyber-warfare at an international level, a dangerous road that the world has already started down.
Gibney has spoken publicly about the folly of objectivity in documentaries, and the trailer for Zero Days makes it clear that he will be arguing against the wanton use of cyber-attacks. I imagine this will be a popular stance; it’s easy to fear the things we don’t understand, and most of us understand malware attacks about as much as we understand quantum mechanics and whatever the hell our pets are thinking. But as cyber-warfare becomes a mainstream way for countries to attack each other, it’s imperative for us all to start thinking about potentially limiting its tactical usage.
Gibney has proven adept at summarizing complex topics, so I’m sure that Zero Days won’t stumble when it comes to explaining the dangers of cyber-warfare. Documentary fans probably already have this one circled on the release calendar, but just in case you don’t, get your pens ready.
Zero Days is directed by Alex Gibney. It will be released in the U.S. in theaters, on Demand, and on the internet on July 8th, 2016. Further release dates are not currently known.
Are you a fan of Alex Gibney? Let us know in the comments!
Does content like this matter to you?
Become a Member and support film journalism. Unlock access to all of Film Inquiry`s great articles. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about cinema - get access to our private members Network, give back to independent filmmakers, and more.