Manipulator vs. Manipulator

On a Wednesday night, the New York Film Festival presented a screening of the documentary "You Can See Everything," which follows Elizabeth Holmes, the former CEO of Theranos, and her partner Billy Evans. The crowd watched as Holmes and Evans appeared to go about their lives at a San Diego beach house. Evans was on the phone, insisting that there was no understanding of Holmes, while Holmes sat next to him, her expression vacant, and patted her baby.

Holmes then engaged in a conversation on her computer, wearing AirPods and seemingly uninterested. Suddenly, the camera cut to Nathan Fielder, a comedian and director, who was observing from the side, causing laughter from the audience. Fielder was not making any facial expressions or comments, simply existing in the room. This scene revealed the obvious fact that the documentary was not a straightforward accounting of Holmes's domestic life but rather an exploration of her strange behavior and lies.

Fielder, known for his ability to uncover the truth in strange situations, had gained access to Holmes and was determined to expose her fictions. He did not appear to be playing a character, and his initial intention was not to appear on-screen. Throughout the documentary, Fielder pressed Holmes and Evans with questions to uncover the truth behind their claims, such as the false claim that Theranos had developed a machine capable of performing over 1,000 diagnostic medical tests.

As Holmes became increasingly frustrated by Fielder's investigation, she eventually admitted that she had never told a lie in her life, but her explanation was just another example of her sophistry. The documentary showed how Holmes's willful obstinacy and lack of ability to distinguish between truth and lies allowed her to maintain her facade as a successful and honest businesswoman.