Based on Lawrence Wright’s 2013 book Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief, Alex Gibney’s (Taxi to the Dark Side) documentary (minus the “Hollywood” part of the book’s title) about the controversial Church of Scientology has gotten its first trailer.
Though predictably attacked by the powerful PR arm of the church as being the work of “disgruntled former members,” Going Clear debuted to strong reviews at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
Building on the source material provided by the book, the doc features archive footage and dramatic re-enactments along with interviews of ex-Scientologists including Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis, who had a pubic falling out with the church over its medieval stance on homosexuality; former highly placed church members Mark Rathbun and Mike Rinder; and Sylvia Taylor who was once the liaison to high profile celebrity Scientologist John Travolta.
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief debuts March 29 on HBO.