THE BRINK
US, 2019, 91 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Alison Klayman.
The Brink is a close-up portrait of political activist, Steve Bannon, in 2017-2018, especially 2018 and his activities in the months approaching the midterm elections of that year.
The film was significant in its release in 2019, director, Alison Klayman, producing and directing, no crew (which gave her rather unobtrusive close-up action at many private meetings), photographer, editor, her personal portrait of Bannon. In some ways, it is surprising that Bannon allowed her such access but, as with Donald Trump, bad publicity is better than no publicity!. The film has something of his background in politics, finance, but very little about his personal life except reference to his wives and his nephew, Sean Bannon, working for him.
The film gives some background to Breitbart News, his work in this alt-right organisation, writing, radio, television, his links with various personalities in the organisation especially in the UK.
He is credited with some masterminding in Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign but, in 2017, began to be critical of Republicans, his being fired by Trump, and then his very personal mission of promoting Populism, the film highlighting many travels to Europe, press conferences, political meetings and discussions, especially strong with Nigel Farrage, Victor Orban, Giorgia Meloni, Marine Le Pen…
Which means that there is a lot of discussion about right-wing policies, leadership and control, issues of immigration, collaboration between the right-wing movements, especially in Europe.
The film also shows his involvement in promoting candidates and interviewing them for the midterm elections, and the end of 2018 with his candidates not succeeding in being elected.
While the film ends here, another film could certainly be made about Bannon’s life and career in the succeeding years, fraud charges, cases, a pardon from Trump, international links with financial partners, more fraud charges, imprisonment, 2025 and his criticisms of Trump, especially as regards the relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Which means then that anyone viewing The Brink after 2020 is looking at it with a value of 2020s hindsight.
