Two years ago, the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. The result shocked the world, including those who voted for the Brexit. The Leave campaign cheered the victory at the time and was thrilled it would finally be free of the EU's regulatory shackles. Two years later, however, and the UK has a date for Brexit, March 29, 2019, but not much in the way of a plan.
Prime Minister Theresa May was the woman who was going to lead the UK out of the EU, but her negotiations have disappointed her fellow Conservatives. Just last week she was nearly forced out of Parliament. She drafted a Brexit deal in Brussels that was unacceptable to many in her party and had to postpone on it last week when it became obvious she didn't have the support. Following that delay, the MPs hurt May's ego even more by taking a vote of no confidence in her. She won the vote, but told press that she will not seek re-election.
In the midst of all this government upheaval over Brexit, HBO is releasing a film about it. Directed by Toby Haynes, Brexit: The Uncivil War goes “behind the scenes, revealing the personalities, strategies and feuds of the Leave and Remain campaigns.” The feature stars Benedict Cumberbatch as "the man behind Brexit," Dominic Cummings. In the trailer, we see Cummings leading a cunning, immoral, and perhaps illegal campaign to push Team Leave to a narrow victory.
First, the immoral part. Cummings suggests to his team ahead of the Brexit vote that they stir up racial sentiment in the country to convince Brits to vote Leave.“Is it immigration?" Cummings asks at one point. "You can be honest. Is it race? Which countries don’t you like?”
In addition to stirring racial, nationalist sentiments, the film also suggests that Vote Leave employed data tactics to target specific demographics on Facebook. Some groups have even called for an investigation into their campaign strategy.
Other figures featured in the movie, according to the trailer, include a very recognizable Boris Johnson.
No matter what angle the HBO producers took for the plot, we knew it was going to be controversial. That's not all though. Critics say the timing just isn't right.
How dare you make money from a criminal activity that its investigations are still ongoing!!!!
— Minoo Osborne (@MinooOsborne) December 15, 2018
Dear HBO - it’s a bit irresponsible to release a disaster movie when we’re still in the middle of the disaster.
— Scott Free (@shrimperbhoy) December 15, 2018
Regards,
The U.K.#BrexitHBO
Others, like Guardian journalist Carole Cadwalladr, who launched some investigations into the Vote Leave campaign, sent HBO a few expletives.
Brexit: The Uncivil War will premiere on HBO on January 19.