The Magnitsky Act: Behind the Scenes

I can't rebiew the film, because I and the entire population of the West is forbidden to see this expose of the mega con-artist William Browder, who has lobbied at least four governments to pass extremely unfair, human rights violating legislation, "Magnitsky Act"s primarily so Browder can punish Russian prosecutors for daring to charge and convict Browder of serious tax fraud. It the truth came out, it would not be merely embarrassing to these governments, it will be a daming indictment of politicians who know the truth, but follow the lie because it suits their political goals.

I had been waiting to see this documentary for 2 years, since I heard about the doubts regarding the 'official' Magnitsky narrative, and finally managed to watch it today.

I have previously read 'The Killing of William Browder: Deconstructing Bill Browder's Dangerous Deception' by Alex Krainer and was determined to view this narrow focus on the Magnitsky affair after being convinced by Kramer of Browder's true nature.

Andrei Nekrasov turns from docu-drama director into the lead as he uncovers many damning details that ultimately sum up into leaving you in no doubt that William Browder a Liar and a Cheat.

The story is compelling and the quality of camera and editing make it a must watch as an indication of just how far the uber-rich, well connected are able to fool the very highest institutions into enacting laws in their favour.

Bill Browder is seen as a talking head quite a lot these days on tv with regard to what is going on with Russia/Ukraine. He is a smooth-talker, and someone you could envision trusting your millions to invest, if you had millions. I started watching this thinking that it would be a ultra-liberal or Russo-centric hit piece on the West or Browder/Hermitage. After about 30 minutes, my jaw was hanging open. I wish that I had a timeline to follow as to the events that were covered in the movie. I would have to watch it 2 or 3 more times to be able to have a better handle on the series of events. Having said that, there is definitely something quite wrong in the tale of 'Magnitsky as Browder's lawyer turned whistleblower' set forth by Browder himself in a multitude of interviews, books, hearings, tv appearances, etc. You want to believe the initial narrative, because it so neatly fits with what we have been told over the years about Reagan's evil empire. You can feel the director's angst, who started out filming one version as a movie-maker who is a "Russian documentary maker with a mission: with his films he exposes social and political wrongs." He starts to uncover a thousand inconsistencies in the story-line, and ends up with a totally different social and political wrong than the one he started with. I totally agree with his final conclusions, and give him kudos for having the guts to change 180 degrees mid-filming and to put out this version of the movie. You have to look to find this movie, but it is well-worth it. The scenario does not jibe with the Western version of events as set forth by Browder, but no one seemingly bothered to investigate Browder's claims, and just took him at his word. It is rather sickening that the man (Browder) is profiting from the situation by books and appearances. I don't think the movie besmirches Magnitsky or the human rights act that bears Magnitsky's name. I do think it is a true tale of funny money and a false narrative created to hide illegal financial doings. I do not believe it is either pro-Russia or anti-Russia. It just happens to take place in Russia, where everything seems to have a in-the-looking glass quality to it. Highly recommended.

I was fortunate enough to watch the film before somebody shut down all the available online links. It is a pity that Arte and other communication channels have been so much bullied that people cannot get a fair and independent judgment on the whole story. The film documentary is indeed a master piece of deductive enquiry where the truth may lie well behind what Browder's speech make us believe it is. The fact that this film and books like the Killing of William Browder by Alex Krainer are blocked makes one wander to what extent democracy and freedom of expression is in danger nowadays.

The Magnitsky affair baffled me for a while. I could not find any serious sources that provide an impartial description to what had happened. This film does a really good job of providing that description, from a director that is openly pro-Western and liberal. Kudos to him for having the balls to do the right thing. The fact that such a film does not align with the political aims of Western democracies, which seem to drown further and further away from own values, explains totalitarian-style ban imposed on the film.