In 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist, entered his embassy in Istanbul. He will never come out alive. "The Dissident," traces Khashoggi's brutal and bloody murder, as well as the Kingdom's effort against exiled dissidents. It shows a facet of the propaganda machine that aims to protect the Royal Family.
Warning Possible Spoilers below!
"The Dissident" a hard-hitting documentary:
From the beginning, the documentary reveals its main theme: The icy murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Fogel uses J.T multiple international news channels, all covering the murder announcement. The director has only one idea in mind: to trace the investigation into the disappearance and execution of the prominent journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. Although the documentary does not bring much new information about what was already known about the murder, this documentary remains crucial to see. It shows a facet of the Kingdom and its propaganda machine that the public probably does not know. His strengths lie in the director's storytelling skills as well as the passion, diversity and clarity of the speakers. 
The documentary can be separated into 3 specific 'stories':
- The investigation into the disappearance and murder of the journalist.
- The life of Omar Abdulaziz aka "The Dissident. " A Saudi political activist and friend of Khashoggi, he is in exile for his criticism of the Saudi royal family.
- Khashoggi's relationship with his Turkish fiancé, Hatice Cengiz, and the latter's fight for justice.
"In Saudi Arabia, if you're talking about everything except the royal family, you're not talking about politics." In terms of political documentary, there is nothing to complain about, as a whole, it is excellent. His only "downside", which is not one, is that the 3rd story about Khashoggi's relationship with Hatice Cengiz is not necessarily necessary to the documentary. He can very well stand on the first two branches and explore them in more detail. Or, explore in more detail the role and actions of Hatice Cengiz to obtain justice and put this story in the international spotlight.
Dissenting in spite of himself
Khashoggi and Omar Abdulazziz did not become dissidents of their own free will. Their criticism of the Saudi regime and their struggle for freedom of expression has resulted in a life in exile and constant fear for their loved ones. Yet they love their country. The documentary directly explores how these men found themselves 'banished' from their homelands and why they cannot return home. It also traces the meeting and friendship between these two men. "What do you know about bees?" This is Khashoggi's question to Omar. This metaphor will serve as a framework for a long part of the documentary. Dissidents who want to help their country find themselves in the role of bees. While the regime's propaganda machine is the fly that aims to drown out voices on social networks. 
Fogel also shows the fragility of free speech in a world where it is easier to shut up and bow your head. It also emphasizes the role and influence of social media in dictating the power of a regime. As with personality cults seen in the past via paper propaganda, today it is on social networks that this happens. It shows us how a high-profile murder can be completely erased in the 21st century.
Overall impressions:
Throughout the film, viewers will remain captivated by this extremely important documentary in our time. It is up to the spectators to decide for themselves what they think of this case. This documentary creates a faithful timeline of the events lived and allows to provide necessary clarification on the context of this murder. The Dissident is released on March 15, 2021 on VOD.
