The Six Billion Dollar Man: Inside Julian Assange’s Life

Eugene Jarecki's documentary, The Six Billion Dollar Man, explores the convoluted world of Julian Assange, unveiling the political maneuvers that saw him confined in Ecuador's London embassy. At the heart of this tale is a rather extraordinary proposition; that the Trump administration, through the IMF, offered the Ecuadorian government a $6.5 billion loan if they ejected Assange, thus enabling his arrest by UK authorities.

Much of this two-hour documentary, which debuted at a special screening in Cannes, sheds light on the complex legal journey that Assange and his dedicated team of attorneys have embarked on for over a decade. From early introductions, The Six Billion Dollar Man delves into Assange's backstory, tracing his transformation from an obscure Australian hacker to a highly-regarded figure in free journalism, and finally his evolution into America's public enemy number one.

Assange's WikiLeaks, founded in 2006, skyrocketed to prominence when he disclosed leaked footage of US Marines in Iraq involved in a civilian massacre, in a video titled Collateral Murder. The site went on to publish thousands of confidential documents online, revealing military logs, diplomatic exchanges, and Democratic National Committee emails, much to the chagrin of the U.S. government.

Interviews with key players, such as Edward Snowden, are interlaced throughout the feature, adding depth and perspective to the multi-faceted narrative. Despite the struggles faced, there remains a silver lining in Assange's tale; his relationship with attorney Stella Assange, which blossomed as he lived under embassy lockdown.

The Six Billion Dollar Man, filled with archival footage, interviews, and even some undisclosed iPhone captures, may be more content-heavy than stylish. However, it carves out space for a clear message that resonates in our era of misinformation, echoing journalist Naomi Klein's sentiment, "The truth matters."