By now most people are well aware of the stories that
revolve around Scientology, a new age religion that’s found promoters in the
form of actors like Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Created by science fiction
writer L. Ron Hubbard the religion believes that its followers are reincarnated
over and over and eventually will be met by aliens who placed them here to
begin with centuries ago.
Much has come out on the group via two main sources, the
book and film GOING CLEAR and the series hosted by ex-Scientology member Leah
Remini. Both have provided tons of information about the religion and the
monetary aspects of it, where members basically pay thousands of dollars for
books and classes, as well as potential slavery and criminal activity that has
yet to be proven. So the thought that another documentary on the topic would
come about was a natural.
Documentary filmmaker Louis Theroux decided to do just that.
But rather than pursue the topic in the normal documentarian fashion he tried
something different. With limited or zero access to the sites and people
involved in Scientology, they are a rather secretive group unless they control
every aspect of an interview, he sets about hiring actors to portray various
members or ex-members recreating scenes that have taken place and are
documented about things that have happened.
As a technical advisor he gets the assistance of
ex-Scientologist Mark Rathbun. Rathbun was a former senior executive for the
organization and was the Inspector General of the Religious Technology Center
(RTC), the group in charge of the protection and enforcement of all things
Scientology. In this role he was central in ruining the lives of anyone who
dared speak ill of Scientology as well as taking people to The Hole, a compound
surrounded by barbed wire and with high security equipment that prevents people
from escaping.
As the film progresses the relationship between Theroux and
Rathbun becomes central to what is taking place in the auditions and
re-enactments being shot. Rathbun knows the reality of what took place but
Theroux only knows what he’s been told. The pair become exasperated with one
another at several points but work toward a common goal.
Much of Theroux’s attitude changes when he begins to
actually see the tactics used against him by the Church of Scientology.
Suddenly he’s being followed and filmed by members of the group. They appear
outside the studio where he is filming the re-enactments, shooting footage of
him and anyone who enters the building. A stalker like system of following him,
a campaign intending to smear him and the film he’s working on, threats of
being arrested and more begin to make Theroux realize that there was perhaps
more truth to what he’s been told by Rathbun than he realized.
The film is interesting for taking a different tact than
others about the same topic. Denied permission to shoot inside any of the
centers for Scientology or to interview members Theroux ended up talking to
those who left and found out their stories were identical enough to be true.
Couple that with his treatment and one has to wonder why anyone would join the
organization. Using what techniques he has at his disposal to tell the story it
becomes and interesting cautionary tale about the group and how they treat
anyone who questions them. In all it adds yet another chapter in the story of
this organization that should make folks wonder about the true motives behind
it.
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