ZERO DAYS is another documentary from prolific film-maker Alex Gibney. This time the topic of debate is the computer virus Stuxnet, manufactured by American and Israeli intelligence and launched in Iran to destroy Iranian nuclear facilities. Of course, such a mammoth undertaking had unexpected results, and ZERO DAYS explores those results.
It's a highly politicised documentary with the expected criticism of the USA and Israel; it seems that most if not all documentary makers in recent years are left wingers who always have their sights set on the USA. However, the subject matter is interesting enough to make this worthwhile, and the technical details are by far the best part. The nature of the incident is such that most of the information was and is still being hushed up, so don't expect much 'on the record' stuff here, just computer geeks explaining what they know.
Zero Days
2016
Action / Documentary
Zero Days
2016
Action / Documentary
Keywords: hackingcybercrime
Plot summary
Documentary detailing claims of American/Israeli jointly developed malware Stuxnet being deployed not only to destroy Iranian enrichment centrifuges but also threaten attacks against Iranian civilian infrastructure. Adresses obvious potential blowback of this possibly being deployed against the US by Iran in retaliation.
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Documentary exploring the reality of an aggressive computer virus
'To this we've come' - Fact stranger than sci-fi fiction
Alex Gibney wrote and directed this most disturbing documentary examining claims of American/Israeli jointly developed malware Stuxnet being deployed not only to destroy Iranian enrichment centrifuges, but also threaten attacks against Iranian civilian infrastructure, while drawing our attention to the obvious potential blowback of this possibly being deployed against the US by Iran in retaliation.
The 'cast' is a collection of the most famous leaders throughout the world, along with those in high positions in security,as well as reporters. The clips of moments from televised meetings and speeches underline the validity of the concept, but the single most impressive 'character' is a voice-disguised, face disguised-woman who speaks in a raw contemporary manner, underlining the important points the documentary is making. Her 'identity' is revealed at the end of the film.
Cybersecurity - a term that is becoming more frequently used in today's world - is something that now indicates the possibility of malware war (cyberwarfare): destroying countries with a virus that can wipe out power, communication, finances - lives! This is the takeaway from this documentary: the facts about the American/Israeli creation and use of the virus Stuxnet have been before the public for several years now. But It is the possibility of the use of created malware as a war tactic that makes us gasp.
A must-watch
Great documentary. Very informative and enlightening (not for the Pixar crowd). Very honest and surprisingly propaganda-free. The film maker went to great lengths to find credible, knowledgeable and highly qualified people to interview for this topic. Kudos.
"To make a documentary on such a complicated, far-reaching subject and maintain a common-sense perspective requires formidable organizational skills and a steady narrative hand to keep the movie from straying into any number of theoretical byways. It takes the imagination of a science- fiction writer to make it coherent and entertaining enough to hold your attention. Mr. Gibney has demonstrated all of these qualities..." Stephen Holden, The New York Times.