Saturday 17th Oct – (1) ‘My Scientology Movie’
L. Ron Hubbard, founder of scientology, is oft quoted as having said, “the way to get rich is to found a religion,” and when control of his own brand of psycho-analysis, Dianetics, was wrested from him, he created scientology. Essentially, this was Dianetics re-branded as a religion, with the added benefits of tax-exempt status and a loyal cult following.
I love Louis Theroux’s documentaries, I think his calm, unthreatening manner in the face of extraordinary people, ranting, teases out some fascinating interviews. Louis tries to be even-handed in this film but scientologists really do themselves no favours by obsessively following him, filming him whenever he shoots on location and harassing him if he ‘trespasses’ on their land. Furthermore, by refusing to co-operate with Louis in any way in his investigation of scientology, they make Louis’ only option be to speak with disgruntled ex-members of the organisation, to employ embarrassing old clips of Tom Cruise and to hire actors to play key players in recreated scenes.
For me, one of the most interesting aspects of the film, was its exploration of the rise of David Miscavige as their leader, not least because I had never heard of him! For such a high profile organisation, I realised how surprising it was that he was not a household name. David began his scientology career as one of founder L. Ron Hubbard’s ‘personal messengers’, when he was just a teenager, but rose to leadership whilst still in his early 20’s. The suggestion from former scientologists is that he expects complete loyalty, can be explosively violent and that he authorises harassment of anyone who speaks against his organisation. He denies such claims but the multitude of ex-members who attest to his character and tactics and the harassment, which Louis experienced, suggest otherwise but I would urge you to go and see it for yourself and to make up your own mind.