Following the HBO documentary “Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God,” his investigation into sex abuse in the Catholic Church, Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney (HBO’s “Taxi to the Dark Side”) turns his gaze to Scientology in Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, based on the book by Pulitzer Prize winner Lawrence Wright.
The documentary, which world-premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Fest, in January, debuts Sunday, March 29, exclusively on HBO.
Gibney profiles eight former members of the Church of Scientology, whose most prominent adherents include A-list Hollywood celebrities, shining a light on how the church cultivates true believers, detailing their experiences and what they are willing to do in the name of religion.
The film highlights the Church’s origins, from its roots in the mind of founder L. Ron Hubbard to its rise in popularity in Hollywood and beyond.
At the center of the feature is a series of shocking revelations by former insiders, including high-ranking and recognizable members such as acclaimed screenwriter-director Paul Haggis, of the Oscar-winning “Crash,” as they describe the systematic history of abuse and betrayal by Church officials, including the current leadership of the Church.
A provocative tale of ego, exploitation and power, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief will open in theaters in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco on Friday, March 13, prior to its HBO debut.
GOING CLEAR: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE PRISON OF BELIEF is written and directed by Alex Gibney; based on the book by Lawrence Wright; producers, Alex Gibney, Kristen Vaurio and Lawrence Wright; editor, Andy Grieve; director of photography, Samuel Painter. For HBO: supervising producer, Sara Bernstein; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.
