Sow division
Influence narratives
Play on fear

“I got in there and I kicked their arse”

This is difficult to write as a review rather than an incoherant rant against Timothy Bell, right-wing PR machines, Thatcher, Pincohet… what else have we got?  In case I go off track and lose you, here’s my two-word review: enraging stuff.

This film neatly presents all of Bell’s career over the last 50 years and in doing so, traces how the political process has been privatised and converted into manipulative marketing, with this model subsequently exported and profited from all over the world. Welcome to flight Trump/Johnson folks. If you are wondering how you got on board Post Truth Airways, give this film a watch.  I recommend that you do not have any large moveable objects within reach while flying, or just get ready say goodbye to your tv screen.

The dying Bell is given a platform for the duration of the film to “tell the truth, one last time” – which of course he does not, as the South African filmmakers seem well prepared for. Bell repeatedly contradicts himself and overstates his importance.  The chain smoking, toad-like smugness of the man is truly awful to behold  

It can be a bit of a difficult watch at times, as Bell and other dislikeable witnesses hold court from various luxury locations, showing off about how they changed the world for the worse.  Cut to people being shot at on the streets in South Africa as a direct result of this interference.  

A welcome relief to proceedings, among other dissenting voices, is South African MP Phumzile Van Damm. Hearing her testimony of “I got in there and I kicked their arse”, about the hearing that saw Bell Pottinger brought down, was a much needed pay off.  I cheered at the telly and really missed being with a live cinema audience at this moment.

Who will the audience be for a two-hour factual film like this?  I wish all the ‘there is no conspiracy/fake news/shut up snowflake’ chanty brigade would give it a go but that seems unlikely.  I hope though that the South African journalist is right when she concludes that “they can be beaten”.

 Written by Denise Hobart