Joshua Oppenheimer

Joshua Oppenheimer, American-British director and film professor known for probing mass violence, discusses his shift from documentary to narrative with The End. He talks about cameras as mirrors, blending fiction and documentary to reveal self-deception, apocalypse as revelation, capitalism’s role in limiting imagination, and how film can implicate viewers morally.

Joshua Oppenheimer, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind impactful documentaries, discusses his latest project, an apocalypse musical featuring Tilda Swinton. He delves into the existential themes and societal reflections woven into the film, emphasizing its relevance in today’s climate crisis. Megan Down shares her poignant story of loss after her home was destroyed in the Southern California fires, highlighting the emotional and financial struggles of affected families. The conversation also touches on the complexities of free speech and the media’s handling of political rhetoric.

Sam Harris speaks with the filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer about his remarkable documentaries, "The Act of Killing" and "The Look of Silence." If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.