The Brink
It’s unclear what exactly the title refers to, but this insight into the inner realm of Steve Bannon does make you feel like we’re on the edge of a precipice.
Alison Klayman goes up close and personal with her lens, trailing Bannon on his quest to unite ultra-conservative, far-right entities across the globe after his short stint as a White House employee. It’s an un-narrated, un-stylised, behind-the-scenes chronicle of Bannon’s activities, from mundane admin to disturbingly casual meetings with leading extreme-right figures discussing unsavoury agendas. There are a few angry outbursts and awkward encounters caught on film, but you get the sense that Bannon is always acutely aware and therefore well-behaved for the camera. However, that in itself is very telling.
The film spans a period of several months, beginning just prior to the 2018 mid-term elections. It’s a key-hole peep at arrogance in motion.
★★★
Reviewed by Rita Bratovich