There are myriad differences between Israeli politics and the Jewish faith. That seems to be the necessary caveat one must make when criticizing the government of Israel these days. After all, the U.S. Congress passed a bill expanding the definition of antisemitism to include any critique “of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity.” Fortunately, H.R. 6090 hasn’t been taken up in the Senate, otherwise an article like this, or perhaps even a documentary likeThe Bibi Files, could not be distributed. This is just another step in the increasing lawlessness of the Israeli government, personified by its long-time on-and-off Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
If you don’t know much about the political figure,The Bibi Filesis an excellent, if understandably biased, introduction. Even if you’re quite aware of the Netanyahu family,The Bibi Filesis a revelation, because it shows interrogation footage of Benjamin (known as Bibi), his third wife Sara, his son Yair, and various political officials, oligarchs, employees, and friends in their orbit.
You may know the facts about their corruption, but there is a uniquely emotional and guttural difference in seeing it take place. For instance, you may know that Sara Netanyahu has a bad reputation as a hateful and boorish woman, but actually seeing her huff and puff and yell indignantly at officers in her interrogation room is something else entirely. This is very revealing footage, and the way it’s woven into new interviews and archival footage is smooth and gripping. Its 115 minutes barely feels like an hour.
The Trial of Benjamin Netanyahu
The Bibi Files
The Bibi Files is an urgent journalistic exposé based on unseen leaked footage of police interrogations of the politician as well as his wife Sara and son Yair. The film explores the corruption cases that resulted in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s indictment on breach of trust, bribery, and fraud in 2019. Many Israelis believe that Netanyahu’s attempts to delay his trial are key to understanding his current policies regarding war and the return of Israeli hostages.
Benjamin Netanyahu is the leader of Israel’s Likud party, a right-wing nationalist political party that has been prominent over the past 30 years. Bibi joined it in 1988 and has been playing a game of musical chairs in the Israeli government since then — from a deputy chief to an ambassador, a Prime Minister to the leader of the opposition party, the Minister of Finance to the Prime Minister, again and again. In the most recent election, he had to join forces with pro-war right-wing extremists to maintain power.
The Bibi Filesis not a history lesson or a biography, though; there are better books and documentaries if you’re looking for a lengthy and objective analysis of the Netanyahu years and the history of right-wing Zionism. Instead,The Bibi Filestells the particular, very specific story of Netanyahu’s corruption and how it connects with Oct. 7th and Israel’s unending expansion and war.It’s about the cases of bribery and fraud that have been brought against him, and it comes to theaters (and streams on JOLT) at quite literally the perfect time — one day afterday one of Netanyahu’s testimonyin the public corruption trial.
Alex Gibney Hands Over the Leaked Police Footage
Alexis Bloom, who previously documented another powerful conservative man levied with major accusations in the very good filmDivide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes, presentsThe Bibi Filesin a simple, no-frills way. Bloom has worked with the prolific Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) before, and that Oscar-winning filmmaker’s editing style is on complete display inThe Bibi Files. In fact, it was Gibney who received the leaked interrogation footage back in 2023, and he helped produce this film (which features an editor of several Gibney documentaries, Andy Grieve).
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Grieve and Bloom do a great job hooking audiences in with thenever-before-seen interrogation footageas a chorus of interviewed talking heads make their well-edited introductions.The Bibi Filesfeatures painfully personal interviews with Netanyahu’s (former) friends and employees, journalists, survivors of the Oct. 7th attack, and, in perhaps the most damning interview, Bibi’s close confidante and campaign manager, Nir Hefetz. We’re then taken back for abrief and fast-moving look at Bibi’s life, how he went into politics, and how he drifted increasingly toward the far right. All the interviews and archival footage are efficient and cleanly intertwined.
The crowning achievement of the documentary, though, is what takes place in the leaked interrogation footage. The police, journalists, and attorney general’s office did a great job collecting evidence and interrogating (and turning) the people closest to the Netanyahus.
Billionaires Miriam and (pre-death) Sheldon Adelson talk about how they felt forced to provide Bibi and his wife with expensive gifts. Famed producer and gun-runner Arnon Milchan discusses how he secretly transported dozens of thousands of dollars worth of champagne and cigars to the Netanyahus. Wealthy oligarch Shaul Elovitch is discovered to have yielded control of his major news outlet to the Netanyahus behind the scenes. Quid pro quos begat quid pro quos.
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One of the most disturbing aspects of the footage is seeing just how immune and untouchable the Netanyahus believe themselves to be, and how much contempt they have for morality, the law, and the citizens of Israel. The way Bibi feigns ignorance of every question from three or four officers during his interrogation is almost comical. It’s pathetic how he indignantly bangs on the table, shouting, “Lies!” This, all while he’s shown paperwork, testimonies, and recordings that incriminate him.
If you think Bibi is bad, you haven’t metSara Netanyahu, presented as a demonic entitythat seems more composed of garbage than humanity. A notorious drunk according to those closest to her, Sara shouts at and belittles the officers during her attempted interrogation. Without any self-awareness, this monster comes across as a cookie-cutter rich villain in just about any movie you’ve ever seen. Meanwhile, their creepy son cusses out the police officers and dehumanizes them, just as he dehumanizes every Arab in his frequent genocidal rants online and in podcasts. What a family.
‘The Bibi Files’ Goes From Fraud to Genocide
The boldest aspect ofThe Bibi Filesis how it connects Netanyahu’s crimes withthe ongoing genocide in Gaza— which has indeed been defined as a literal genocide by Amnesty International, the United Nations, Jewish Voice for Peace, the International Federation for Human Rights, and countless other organizations, scholars, and world leaders.The film details how Netanyahu’s increasing fear of imprisonment has led to an increased war effort, with Israel now operating in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria. It’s something that may be familiar to Americans who think that Trump ran for President partly to avoid prison time.
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Another connection between Trump and Netanyahu —they both tried to use their power to legally prevent screenings of films that were critical of them(Trump withThe Apprenticeand Netanyahu withThe Bibi Files, who tried to block the film from premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival). That’s always a good sign for democratic leaders, right?…
The Bibi Filesis a cold and crisp look at corruption until it enters its searing and emotional third act, incorporating the events of Oct. 7th and Israel’s subsequent actions. The footage is horrifying on both sides; you may want to look away from the screen at several points. We’re introduced to the family members of Israeli hostages who are critical of the government, but who fear retribution. There’s a powerful interview with a wise young woman from a kibbutz who watched Hamas kill dozens of her friends and loved ones. Her quiet but pointed critique of Netanyahu may even be more affecting than the crimes against him.
The Bibi Filesends on a bleak note, with a long-time friend of Netanyahu speaking out against him publicly and lamenting what the Prime Minister and his family have done to Israel. At the end, the film reminds us of the massive street protests and police crackdowns in Israel, the brutalities of the IDF, and thehorrors in Gazaand the West Bank. You realize, then, that this is in no way a film that critiques Israel. No,The Bibi Filesloves Israel and unveils how it’s being utterly ruined by a corrupt family.The film seeks righteous justice for what the Netanyahus have done to the Israeli people and the world around them, and by the end ofThe Bibi Files, you’ll shout for justice, too.
A Jigsaw Productions release,The Bibi Filesis now in theaters;find showtimes here. The film is alsostreaming on JOLT here.
