Alex Gibney's new film about Elon Musk premiered at the Venice Film Festival. This documentary, which lasts 225 minutes, portrays a controversial and deep image of the life and work of the world's richest man, prompting audiences to reflect on the future that Musk has promised.
Making the Documentary and Its Challenges
Oscar-winning director and prominent documentarian Alex Gibney has worked on this project for years. Before starting the film, he attempted to interview Elon Musk but faced a negative reaction from him. Musk called the film "destructive" on social media, to which Gibney responded, "How do you know?" Ultimately, Gibney decided to use a digitally created version made with artificial intelligence to replicate Musk's words, an approach that somewhat alludes to Musk's ideas about simulating the real world.
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The Image of Elon Musk in the Documentary
This documentary compiles various reports about Elon Musk into a fast-paced and gripping narrative. Although many details of Musk's life have been reported before, Gibney has managed to present a largely negative and frightening image of him by establishing a new approach. This portrayal, according to some interviewees, effectively reflects Musk's methods of attracting investment and his promises about the future. Adam Becker, a writer and astrophysicist, criticizes Musk's plans for colonizing Mars, stating, "Such a thing will not happen."
Additionally, the documentary examines Musk's management practices at Twitter and the U.S. government. Zoe Schiffer, an author of a book about Musk, points out that after purchasing Twitter, he removed employees without a proper understanding of their functions. Schiffer also explains how Musk followed the same pattern during the Trump administration, attempting to reduce the national debt by cutting budgets.
The film also uses clips from the classic British film "The Man Who Could Work Miracles" to illustrate its dramatic perspective on Musk. This classic work tells the story of a man who gains strange powers and ultimately leads to the destruction of the Earth.
Initial reviews following the film's screening have been generally positive, with Variety describing it as "a biting and important work." In response to the documentary, Musk called it "a destructive work" and criticized its length.
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