As I walked home from the theater last night, my brain spun with questions. You Can See Everything is billed as a documentary where you can, quite literally, see everything about Elizabeth Holmes’ life leading up to her incarceration, but it’s somehow more and less than that. Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s film raise questions about power, finances, and what the word “truth” really means.
As could be expected by the names attached to the project, You Can See Everything is a masterclass in documentary filmmaking. The blocking, audio choices, and composition make for a film that could easily win Best Picture at the Oscars despite being a documentary. What truly sets the film apart, however, is the enigma that is Elizabeth Holmes. She is able to match Fielder’s dry delivery and stare at him so intensely I was certain they’d kiss. She’ll deliver sentences with a smile and a nod and moments later admit to being confused about what it means.
The audience was brought into her last 34 days before her 11 years in prison, and yet we know her almost less than we did before. Let’s take a look at the questions the film raised, and whether it also hinted at answers.
The following includes spoilers for You Can See Everything. I highly recommend watching the documentary before continuing. It’s worth it.