Review of The Dissident
midlandsmovies • April 25, 2021
The Dissident (2021) Dir. Bryan Fogel (Amazon Prime)
From the director of the excellent cycling documentary Icarus, comes new film The Dissident, another expose of a corrupt system which this time covers the killing of an exiled journalist by state agents.
Jamal Khashoggi was an influential and ultimately controversial journalist whose statements and investigations resulted him in becoming a thorn in the side of the Saudi regime and its repressive regime. In addition, the film is framed around Saudi activist Omar Abdulaziz (also in exile) who continues to campaign and rally others against the repressions of the state
To the uninitiated, Khashoggi’s backstory is given plenty of prominence explaining how he fled Saudi Arabia into self-imposed exile after being critical of the kingdom’s rulers, King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
But it was in 2018 when the journalist headed to the Saudi consulate in Turkey to arrange documents for his forthcoming marriage that tragic events unfolded and was never seen again.
The murder of the journalist became an international scandal as it was alleged that he was killed on the orders of the regime, and the film proposes that this went all the way to the top of the royal family who would have had to give their approval.
The documentary also exposes how this is linked to wider social suppression in the region as well as some surprising links to other wealthy and powerful individuals across the globe.
Many may be familiar with the film’s narrative having been extensively covered in the media at the time. Yet, it doesn’t stop it still being shocking as it delves deeper into the journalist’s personal life. This gives it a much-needed emotional depth, often more so than the mainstream reports on.
The film gives plenty of context to the subversive content and the talking head sections are balanced against necessary visual explanations (perhaps a tad exuberant given the sober messaging) to deliver its dramatic twists and turns.
And in the end, whilst some details have been trodden before, this comprehensive exploration covers all aspects of the complicated circumstances in an incredibly accomplished manner.
Illuminating corruption, cover-ups and appalling violence, The Dissident is an exceptional essay encompassing the full scope of an international incident that leaves you appalled and angry in the most appropriate way possible.
★★★★
Michael Sales
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