Anthony Weiner is a former congressman from New York’s 9th congressional district. In June 2011, Weiner resigned from Congress amid a sexting scandal that was cheekily referred to as “Weinergate”. Two years later, a pair of documentarians named Josh Kriegman, Elyse Steinberg were granted access to film Weiner’s campaign in the 2013 New York City mayoral race. While initially I am sure the pair were interested in a behind-the-scenes look at the logistics of running a campaign, perhaps with a taste of the phoenix rising from the ashes, what they captured was infinitely more interesting. During the campaign, with the cameras rolling, another sexting scandal involving Anthony Weiner broke. Kriegman and Steinberg’s fascinating film Weiner documents the resulting media circus, and manages to offer insightful commentary on the bloodthirstiness of the media, the constitution of a politician, and the effect that a man’s failings can have on his family.
Long-Form Film Criticism and Fiction Writing by Derek Jacobs