HBO Canada finally to air acclaimed Scientology doc ‘Going Clear’

TORONTO – Alex Gibney’s acclaimed documentary “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief” will finally be screened by HBO Canada, six months after the expose originally aired in the U.S.

Gibney’s film set viewership records for HBO in the U.S. while earning the official scorn of the Church of Scientology.

North of the border, the film instead received a theatrical run and VOD release two months after the documentary originally aired.

Based on the book by Lawrence Wright — which wasn’t published in Canada — Gibney’s film tracks the history of the faith, alleging a legacy of abuse, intimidation and exploitation by Church officials.

The film features interviews with former Scientologists including Canadian two-time Oscar winner Paul Haggis.

The Church of Scientology has dismissed “Going Clear” as a “one-sided false diatribe,” built on the testimony of “bitter, vengeful apostates.” The Church also alleges director Gibney didn’t present the film’s allegations to them for response.

Haggis recently spoke highly of the film in an interview with The Canadian Press.

“I’m very proud to have been a part of that,” he said. “I hope it makes a difference. I hope people see it and open their eyes faster than I did. It took a long time for me to see the truth. Shame on me.

“But when I finally did, I felt you can’t just see something and not say something.”

“Going Clear” will air on HBO Canada on Sept. 6.