**‘You Can See Everything’: An In-depth Look at Elizabeth Holmes’s Final Days Before Imprisonment**
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The highly anticipated documentary *You Can See Everything* explores the controversial figure of Elizabeth Holmes, the former Theranos CEO, as it captures the 34 days leading up to her prison sentence. Directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, the film is currently screening in cinemas across the UK and promises a unique perspective on the complexities surrounding Holmes and her family during a tumultuous period.


Filmed in California, the nearly three-hour documentary provides rare access to Holmes, her partner Billy Evans, and their two children in the lead-up to her incarceration. Holmes, who became notorious for her role in the failed blood-testing startup Theranos, began her federal prison term in May 2023 after being found guilty of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud.
Fielder, known for his innovative approach to filmmaking, intertwines documentary storytelling with reenactments. After losing direct access to Holmes upon her entry to prison, he ingeniously enlisted Amanda Seyfried, who portrayed Holmes in the 2022 series *The Dropout*, to fill the gaps in narrative. Seyfried, along with Christopher Abbott, reenacts pivotal moments that Fielder was unable to capture on film, enriching the documentary’s narrative layers.
As the film progresses, it pivots to 2025, following Evans’s attempts to establish a new company called Haemanthus. The venture claims to develop technology that can diagnose health conditions using sweat, saliva, urine, and blood. This entrepreneurial journey unfolds amidst the backdrop of Holmes’s imprisonment, offering insight into the ongoing effects of her actions on her family and those around her.
Notably, Fielder’s access to Evans reveals a complex dynamic. While he initially sought insight into how much Holmes knew regarding Evans’s negotiations with the documentary’s producers, he instead faces challenges due to restrictions on communicating with the incarcerated Holmes. In a creative twist, he uses Seyfried to enact a conversation he could not record, revealing Evans’s controversial financial dealings that seemingly went forward without Holmes’s knowledge.
This motif of ambiguity regarding Holmes’s awareness is a crucial thread throughout the documentary. There are poignant moments where Fielder articulates his desire to ascertain Holmes’s stance on Evans’s financial aspirations, conveying the layered complexities of their relationship. Seyfried’s portrayal invites viewers to question the extent of Holmes’s agency—was she fully aware of Evans’s actions, or was she being manipulated by her partner?
In one of the film’s final sequences, Fielder and Seyfried reflect on their interactions with Holmes and Evans, engaging in a broader discussion regarding culpability and responsibility. The tension between Holmes’s former status as a high-powered executive and her current circumstances as a convicted felon becomes central to their dialogue. Seyfried even suggests that Fielder might have developed an emotional attachment to Holmes, raising questions about bias and objectivity in documentary storytelling.
As the narrative unfolds, the film shifts to a recreated meeting between Fielder and Holmes within the confines of the prison where she is incarcerated. Even though filming inside the prison was not possible, the documentary cleverly resumes outside, where Holmes reunites with her family. The poignant imagery depicts her holding her daughter’s hand, encapsulating the personal toll of her legal battles and the loss of her previous life.
Ultimately, *You Can See Everything* culminates in an unexpected yet emotionally charged scene featuring Fielder swimming in the ocean with Holmes, mere days before her incarceration. This visual representation serves as a metaphor for the contrasts in her life—once thriving and now facing significant personal and professional challenges.
As the credits roll, viewers are left with a profound sense of ambivalence regarding Holmes’s story. The documentary excels at challenging perceptions and provoking conversations about ethics, accountability, and the nature of success, making it a compelling watch for those intrigued by the drama surrounding one of Silicon Valley’s most notorious figures.
With *You Can See Everything* now playing in theatres, audiences have the opportunity to engage with a nuanced portrayal that blends documentary film with elements of scripted narrative, leaving a lasting impression on the legacy of Elizabeth Holmes.
