Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (2015)

Introduction
"Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief" is an absorbing, extensive 2015 documentary film directed by Oscar Winner Alex Gibney and produced by HBO. The movie provides an in-depth check out the life inside the questionable Church of Scientology, illuminating its outlandish practices, the lure it exerts on its followers, and the overbearing control it maintains over its members. The movie is based on the book "Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief" by Lawrence Wright.

The Structure
The movie is structured into 3 parts. The very first part offers a history of the Church and its founder L. Ron Hubbard. This segment exposes the concept that Scientology was developed on the lies and control of Hubbard, a sci-fi writer who established the Church as a fusion of science, religious beliefs, and self-healing- with a non-profit tax status. It depicts Hubbard as a mentally unsteady individual offered to violent fits and delusional stories.

Famous Faces of Scientology
The second half explores the Church's relationship with its celebrity followers, mostly concentrating on the lives of 2 of its biggest stars, Tom Cruise and John Travolta. The documentary uses this sector to review the enigmatic allure that the Church holds for Hollywood celebs. It probes the Church's 'Operation Tom Cruise' where it meddled into his personal life - dissolving his relationship with Nicole Kidman and organizing auditions for his next partner. It highlights the elements of control and control that penetrate the company.

The Church's Dark Side
The last section of the movie takes a look at the darker elements of the Church - the vicious patterns of abuse and oppression, how it exploits its members economically, the forced disconnection policy that wrecks households and its deceptive means to preserve tax-free status. Previous members share jaw-dropping tales of physical and mental penalties, overwork, strict tracking, and confinement they suffered at the Church's mysterious Camp 'Gold Base' facility in California, opening a chilling narrative about their experiences.

Effect and Influences
Laced with interviews from former high-ranking officials and members, the movie sheds light on the cult's approaches, its unusual cosmology, relentless litigation strategies, and the magnetism it applies on its members. Director Alex Gibney offers a searing indictment of the Church, challenging its status as a faith. He does not just provide the Church as an unsafe cult, but rather as an organization that uses faith as a tool to make use of and manage its followers.

Conclusion
"Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief" is an effective and scathing review of the Church of Scientology's practices. It lays bare the stories of persons who managed to get away the Church's grip, providing extensive insight into the mechanisms of control used by cults. Gibney's tenacious storytelling, integrated with harrowing narratives from former members, offers a fascinating watching experience, providing the Church of Scientology securely within the general public sphere for scrutiny and discussion.

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