Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief

[projekktor id=’18871′]

Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is a documentary from Oscar award winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, based on the book ‘Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief’ by Lawrence Wright. It received widespread praise when it premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Gibney profiles eight former members of the Church of Scientology, whose most prominent adherents include A-list Hollywood celebrities, shining a light on how the church cultivates true believers, detailing their experiences and what they are willing to do in the name of religion. This powerful new film highlights the Church’s origins, from its roots in the mind of founder L. Ron Hubbard to its rise in popularity in Hollywood and beyond. The heart of the film is a series of shocking revelations by former insiders, including high-ranking and recognizable members such as acclaimed screenwriter Paul Haggis (“Crash”), as they describe the systematic history of abuse and betrayal by Church officials, including the current leadership of the Church.

As you can imagine, finding people willing to speak out against the church wasn’t easy, but Gibney had some help on that front. “Some of them were interviewed in the book and Larry (Wright) made introductions. It was tough, because some were wary about going on camera. It took a long period of time to persuade them. I interviewed a lot of people who didn’t make the film, so it was an extended process. Ultimately, I decided to focus the film around the stories of these individuals and tell their stories — and, in the process, to tell part of the larger story of Scientology.”

Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is rated 14A.