In a new documentary titled *You Can See Everything*, Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim explore the complexities of Elizabeth Holmes, the controversial figure behind the Theranos scandal, in a manner that has left even the filmmakers puzzled. The film, featuring Fielder and Oppenheim’s interactions with Holmes and her partner Billy Evans, delves into the final 34 days before Holmes began her prison sentence for fraud.
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Holmes, who recently turned 42, and Evans welcomed the filmmakers into their California home during this tumultuous period. The couple, engaged since 2018 and parents of two children, allowed a small film crew to document their lives right up until Holmes reported to the federal prison in Bryan, Texas, on May 30, 2023.
During a recent Q&A session held at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles, Fielder expressed his ongoing bewilderment regarding Holmes’s mindset throughout the filming process. He remarked, “I still am not sure to this day what I experienced,” highlighting the perplexing nature of the conversations he had with both Holmes and Evans.
The film poses significant questions about why Holmes and Evans would choose to open their lives to cameras during such a critical juncture. Fielder shared his confusion about their motivations, stating, “We were like, ‘Why do they want us here?’… There was never a great explanation as to why, why you would want to spend your last month of freedom in a decade with this guy. Why?” He jestingly added that, even without cameras, he would not consider himself a preferable companion in such dire circumstances.
*You Can See Everything* includes numerous discussions that often spiral into ambiguity, prompting the filmmakers to frequently question the underlying meanings behind the recorded interviews. Fielder noted that interacting with Holmes and Evans led him to doubt his own perceptions of reality, explaining, “When you have a feeling of what you experienced and others have a different interpretation, it messes with your head.”
Holmes founded Theranos in 2003, a company that promised to revolutionise healthcare by offering diagnostic testing that could detect an array of diseases from just a few drops of blood. However, the technology never materialised as promised, ultimately leading to her conviction on multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy. Initially sentenced to 11 years, her term was subsequently reduced to nine years for good behaviour. Despite her conviction, Holmes has consistently maintained her innocence amid the ensuing scandal.
The narrative surrounding Holmes has been the inspiration for various adaptations, including the acclaimed Hulu miniseries *The Dropout*, released in 2022, which starred Amanda Seyfried as Holmes.
Fielder expressed enthusiasm about the documentary’s release, indicating that it had been in the hands of a small team for a considerable time. He hopes that as more viewers engage with *You Can See Everything*, they may help shed light on what transpired during the making of the film. “I think maybe it being out there will help me understand what I went through a little bit,” he reflected.
As audiences await the film’s wider release, the compelling yet troubling interplay between the filmmakers and their subjects highlights the complexities of truth and perception within high-stakes narratives. The documentary, which is available in select UK theatres starting 16th October, promises to offer a unique insight into a story that continues to captivate public imagination.