Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in Arabic Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the Film myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.One consistent trait of so-called “strongman” political leaders is their outright contempt for their own nations’ laws and law enforcers. In The Bibi Files, we see Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu interrogated by police during his investigation on charges of bribery and fraud. Over and over, he coolly replies to questions by saying “I don’t remember” — but ends up slamming his fist on the table in outraged ire. (This week, he has been testifying at his trial, no less combatively.) If you think he shows lofty entitlement, you should see his wife Sara and their son Yair when they too are questioned. He and his family have all denied any wrongdoing.Alexis Bloom’s riveting film — whose producers include prolific documentarist Alex Gibney — is built around leaked footage of Netanyahu, his family and associates testifying to police. The film alleges that “Bibi” and Sara have for years received lavish gifts — including cigars, champagne and jewellery — in exchange for favours. A key figure is arms dealer turned Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan, for whom we hear that Netanyahu intervened to iron out his US visa problems.Given the arrest warrant for war crimes recently issued by the ICC, it might seem that Netanyahu’s corruption charges are trivial by comparison. However, the film looks beyond its ostensible topic to show how his legal tribulations led to him shoring up his power base by allying himself with Israel’s far-right hardliners, fuelling the extremity of the nation’s current actions in Gaza, the West Bank and elsewhere.Alongside journalist Raviv Drucker, also one of the film’s producers, contributors include former aides of both Netanyahu and Milchan, previous Israeli premier Ehud Olmert (who was himself imprisoned for corruption) and Uzi Beller, a friend of “Bibi” from childhood but not a political supporter. In the end, Beller too stands up in public to denounce him. There comes a point in a politician’s career when no amount of table-thumping can save their reputation.★★★★☆In US cinemas now and in UK cinemas from December 13
