Page 31 - aruba-today-20170505

PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 5 May 2017
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In the U.S.’s crosshairs, Assange gets his close-up in ‘Risk’

JAKE COYLE it “an embedded report
AP Film Writer that sacrifices impartiality
NEW YORK (AP) — Laura for access.”
Poitras announces early in “I never define myself as an
her Julian Assange docu- activist. I define myself as a
mentary “Risk”: “This is not journalist and a filmmaker,”
the film I thought I was mak- said Poitras. “There’s a long
ing.” tradition of journalism that’s
“I thought I could ignore first-person perspective. I
the contradictions,” the don’t think that journalism
Oscar-winning “Citizen- is by definition activism. I
four” filmmaker says in a think it’s just stories that are
voiceover. “I thought they told from a subjective point
were not part of the story. I of view.”
was so wrong. They are be- But developments that fol-
coming the story.” lowed that premiere led
Decoding “the story” when Poitras to recut her film. She
it comes to the WikiLeaks added the voiceovers that
founder has never been question and occasionally
easy. It’s evolving even distance herself from As-
now, just as Poitras’ six- sange. She updated the
years-in-the-making docu- This image released by Showtime shows Julian Assange in a scene from the documentary “Risk.” film to include the DNC
mentary — one made with Associated Press leak and allegations of a
rare access to an explo- the FBI had “high confi- struggle, I share that. I did earth-shattering WikiLeaks Russian connection, and
sively controversial figure dence” Russia was behind try to let the audience see a publications; it opens with even late last month went
under ever-increasing inter- the DNC hacking. Comey very complex picture. And Assange trying to reach back in to include Attorney
national pressure — is hit- said WikiLeaks was publish- I grapple with it,” Poitras Clinton at the State De- General Jeff Sessions vow
ting theaters. ing damaging “intelligence said in an interview Tues- partment ahead of the im- to make Assange’s arrest
Following WikiLeaks publish- porn.” Assange responded day. “For me, I absolutely minent leak of thousands of “a priority.”
ing of a trove of CIA hack- on Twitter Thursday, accus- support and defend their diplomatic cables. Numerous alleged victims
ing documents in March, ing Comey of lying during right to publish and I think It also shows Assange in a also came forward to ac-
the Department of Justice his testimony. that they have brought for- bracingly intimate, some- cuse Jacob Appelbaum, a
is reportedly preparing to Poitras, whose “Citizenfour” ward extraordinarily impor- times surreal way: getting WikiLeaks insider and signifi-
seek the arrest of Assange, went behind the head- tant information through his hair cut by his loyal fol- cant personality in the film,
who has been holed away lines to reveal NSA whistle- their publishing. And I’m lowers; disguising himself of sexual harassment and
in the Ecuadorean Em- blower Edward Snowden, also disturbed by some of before fleeing to Ecua- bullying. (Appelbaum has
bassy in London for nearly initially hoped that “Risk” the things that are said in dor’s embassy; being in- denied it.) Poitras added to
five years to avoid extradi- would do something similar the film and I didn’t want terviewed by Lady Gaga. the film her acknowledge-
tion to Sweden. On Tues- for Assange. She was mak- to exclude those things. There are hints, too, of the ment of a previous rela-
day, Hillary Clinton blamed ing an intimate documen- Poitras first contacted As- accusations that have of- tionship with Appelbaum
“Russian WikiLeaks” for tary about a brave vision- sange in 2010 after WikiLe- ten followed him, like that and said he was abusive to
swaying November’s elec- ary who risks everything in aks published the “Collat- he runs WikiLeaks like its someone close to her after
tion by publishing hacked his crusade to make gov- eral Murder” video, which own intelligence agency. their relationship ended.
emails from the Demo- ernments transparent. But, showed a U.S. helicopter Poitras first premiered the A representative for Ap-
cratic National Commit- like many others who have in Iraq shooting several film a year ago at the pelbaum didn’t respond
tee. (Assange, responding been confounded by the men, including two Reuters Cannes Film Festival, where to a request for comment
Wednesday on Twitter, told WikiLeaks founder, Poitras journalists. Poitras, who be- it was received largely posi- about the film or abuse al-
Clinton to “Blame your- underwent an evolution in came focused on making tively. But some questioned legations.
self.”) her opinion of Assange. It’s films about post-9/11 sur- whether Poitras was too Slate, however, still criti-
Also on Wednesday, FBI di- a journey she documents veillance, was welcomed closely aligned with her cized the updated “Risk”
rector James Comey, tes- in the film, running right up into Assange’s inner circle. subject. Variety wondered as “what happens when a
tifying before the Senate until now. “Risk” captures some of the if it was a “glorified fan filmmaker gets too close to
Judiciary Committee, said “The ambivalence and inside drama behind many film.” The Guardian labeled her subject.” q

Eagles file trademark suit against

Mexican Hotel California

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The California in Todos San- nia,” which the band says
Eagles are suing the own- tos, a town on the Pacific isn’t true.
ers of a Mexican hotel Coast near the southern tip The hotel website says that
named Hotel California, of Mexico’s Baja California the owners don’t promote
claiming it’s capitalizing off Sur. any association with the
the band’s hit song of the band but that visitors are
same name. The Eagles say Hotel Cali- mesmerized by the “coinci-
fornia has wrongly led dences” between the ho-
The band filed a federal guests to believe it’s asso- tel and the song. In this Jan. 19, 2013 file photo, members of the Eagles, from left,
trademark infringement ciated with the Eagles and The hotel didn’t immedi- Timothy B. Schmit, Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh of The
lawsuit Monday against the served as the inspiration for ately respond to a request Eagles pose with an autographed guitar after a news confer-
U.S.-based owners of Hotel their song “Hotel Califor- for comment Thursday.q ence at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah.
Associated Press