A “compelling” documentary praised by one viewer as a “masterpiece” is available to stream now in the UK.
Cover Up examines the career of legendary investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, who earned recognition for various high-profile stories spanning six decades in print.
Hersh gained prominence for breaking the story of the My Lai massacre perpetrated by US forces during the Vietnam War and his reporting on the Abu Ghraib torture scandal that emerged during the Iraq War.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, who contributed to the New Yorker and The New York Times, proves a reluctant and confrontational subject.
Directors Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus capture moments when Hersh appears ready to abandon the project entirely, creating a captivating and complex viewing experience.
The documentary arrived in American cinemas through a limited theatrical release in December before landing on Netflix shortly afterwards.
The production boasts an impressive 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer, indicating the proportion of approved critics who awarded it a favourable review.
It’s also secured a respectable rating amongst general audiences (76%).
One viewer said: “Seymour Hersh was a behind the scenes hero during my late teens and early twenties. He taught his readers to be skeptical of knee-jerk, blame the victims (or reporters) when they question men in authority.
“It was moving to hear him speak in first person about his experiences as a writer about the shame we experienced and the pain Americans inflicted on innocent people across the world.”
A second described it as the “best documentary of the year, the pure masterpiece, absolute must see ! ! !”.
A third commented: “Excellent insights into how this important reporter works. Very compelling.”
Others felt it proved particularly relevant given America’s current sharp political divisions, with one stating: “Fantastic reminder to either side of today’s media what journalism is supposed to be.”
One viewer who praised the film on IMDb remarked: “Seeing all of the events and stories that have emerged over decades creates a context for many recent and ongoing events in the U. S.
“We can only hope that there are more brave people willing to speak up and take actions to bring truth to light. This is the perfect time for this documentary to be released. I hope it reaches many, many people.”
Cover-Up is available to stream now on Netflix.
