Beleaguered and divisive, Stephen K. Bannon stars in a new fly on the wall style documentary following his journey to spread extreme nationalism amidst the 2018 midterm election cycle. Titled The Brink, the film has just released a trailer only a couple weeks out from its theatrical release. Watch it here:
The Brink comes amid tumultuous times both politically and socially. Bannon, who touts in the trailer, “I’m about winning,” holds President Trump’s rise to power as one of his greatest successes. Against all odds, he remains optimistic for his campaign towards a capital of extreme and, unfortunately, schismatic populism.
The film also comes at a time where there is not one, but two, Bannon documentaries floating around from the festival circuit. Errol Morris’ American Dharma premiered at the Venice Film Festival last fall to mixed reviews with many calling it a tough sell (here’s our take). Morris has been left frustrated with the backlash, saying that despite the indignation expressed on film he wants his audience to consider the source.
In contrast, so far The Brink has been received positively, being acquired by Magnolia Pictures before its debut at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Directed by Alison Klayman (Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry), the film releases in theaters on March 29th.
Here’s the official synopsis:
When Steve Bannon left his position as White House chief strategist less than a week after the Charlottesville ‘Unite the Right’ rally in August 2017, he was already a notorious figure in Trump’s inner circle, known for bringing a far-right ideology into the highest echelons of American politics. Unconstrained by an official post — though some say he still has a direct line to the White House — he became free to peddle influence as a perceived kingmaker, turning his controversial brand of nationalism into a global movement. ‘The Brink’ follows Bannon through the 2018 mid-term elections in the United States, shedding light on his efforts to mobilize and unify far-right parties in order to win seats in the May 2019 European Parliamentary elections. To maintain his power and influence, the former Goldman Sachs banker and media investor reinvents himself — as he has many times before — this time as the self-appointed leader of a global populist movement. Keen manipulator of the press and gifted self-promoter, Bannon continues to draw headlines and protests wherever he goes, feeding the powerful myth on which his survival relies.
