Review of Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (2015) by Harry W — 11 Jul 2015

GOING CLEAR: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE PRISON OF BELIEF.

With a massive fondness for understanding the incompetence of the cult that followed Xenu, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief sounded like an intelligent piece of insight into 21st century ignorance.

To be blunt about Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, the film is terrifying. The subject matter that is explores in the documentary has been overdue for a long time. I mean, I always knew that Scientology was an idiotic concept and that they had involvement with the death of Lisa McPherson, but I didn't know the full extent. Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is no propaganda film, but it makes it clear just what kind of a threat that many people in the Church of Scientology pose to its members and the lives of those around them.

Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief doesn't really take off for a while. The majority of the start of the film covers a history of L. Ron Hubbard and chronicles the suspicious nature of his actions as well as just how Scientology came to be. The majority of this is just a historical recount and purely theoretical without much of a human touch that come from the later stories about the direct experiences of those involved in the church. All this is key to establishing a brief history of Scientology and important to the subject matter of the documentary, but it just isn't the most entertaining material. It's likely that viewers would have heard a lot of this before from other sources, but of course there will be plenty of audiences unfamiliar with the stories and needing to hear it so there is really nothing to complain about there. It's once the story gets past establishing the historical context of its subject matter and establishes a focus on the people being interviewed that is truly compelling.

The most interesting thing about Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is the fact that the people being interviewed are former members of the Church of Scientology. They give us insight into why they joined the cult in the first place and what they felt it offered them, therefore providing a secondary perspective on the issue. Of course the film is predominantly anti-Scientology for obvious and logical reasons, but that isn't because the approach is one sided. It's because the ridiculous system of belief is detrimental to our society as a whole, and viewers are likely to come to this conclusion on their own. But at the same time, we get an understanding on what would encourage people to think differently in their approach to Scientology. It is discussed that Scientology offered an alternative perspective on life when people were trying to find innovative methods around the time of the counterculture movement which is then linked to notable Scientologist John Travolta. As he was once the most notable celebrity within the church, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief gives us a sense of his legacy, the role he played in the church and why he found value in joining. We are given a first person recount from people who were involved with him, and though he declined to be interviewed, he is touched upon well without being slandered. And of course, if John Travolta is covered then so is Tom Cruise. Though the purpose Tom Cruise had for joining the cult is far more ambiguous, his treatment by the church is explained in fine detail through stock footage and recounts of how he was pampered and treated like a king while he made an ass out of himself in interviews. Keep in mind, it is the viewer's interpretation that matters when watching Tom Cruise laughing like a maniac in a black turtleneck, but it is easy to come to the same conclusion as I have in this case. Either way, it adds to the characterisation of the Church of Scientology as being more seedy and strange.

Keep in mind that I said the documentary was terrifying. This is because the stories you'll hear from those who have been interviewed are beyond belief. I always knew Scientology was ridiculous and seedy, but I had no idea the way they treated their followers. It is apparently common for Scientology to force members to separate from family members who do not fit the criteria of the cult, be they believers in psychology or even homosexual. The cult is built on destroying relationships between family and friend because of something to do with an alien overlord, but you have to contribute thousands of dollars and multiple years to them before finding that out. Luckily enough it is all presented within this documentary with all the natural horror stories regarding physical and mental torture, forced labour and separating mothers from newborn children who are then left in poor conditions. Frankly, the stories told in Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief go between being terrifying and heartbreaking, but either way it is clear that the damage dealt by the church of Scientology needs to be acknowledged and dealt with immediately so that no more harm may come of its followers or the loved ones of those imprisoned in the false optimism of the cult. Part of the dramatic effect comes from the way that the film is dramatised with recreated footage and intense music. Though most of the film is genuine stock footage, some scenes have to be recreated which are captured with powerful cinematography that plays with focus and a subtle but intense musical score, but none of it compares to the blunt emotional damage depicted by those being interviewed. Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is a film that comes from the heart of those who have suffered under the reign of David Miscavige's gang of merry men, and that it made abundantly clear through the emotional strength of the words spoken by the participants. The human touch is what really sells the film and elevates the feature beyond being a blank theoretical reconstruction of history, and that is what makes it truly powerful piece. Alex Gibney makes a powerful directorial effort, involving himself deeply within the lives of those interviewed and ensuring that their stories are told through a well structured and properly dramatised documentary.

So though it has a tendency to stretch on at times, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is an emotionally gripping and educational insight into the world of Scientology which is outright terrifying.