It’s safe to say that the American public has seen a whole lot of Anthony Weiner, but do we really know him? Filmmakers Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg are out to share his story with their upcoming documentary, the aptly titled (in more ways than one) Weiner. With unprecedented access to the congressman during his NYC mayoral campaign, the filmmakers stumbled into a gold mine of solid doc material when Weiner’s explicit Twitter messages became a matter of public discourse. A character study as much as it is an examination of politics in the information age, Weiner looks at what happens when our most private secrets become exposed.
Weiner comes to Chicago theaters on May 27, but The A.V. Club and IFC Films have an opportunity for you to see it for free a few days early on Wednesday, May 18. For your chance to win a pair of passes to the advance screening, simply follow the link here and enter your information. Remember: Advance screenings are often intentionally overbooked, so be sure to arrive early if you want to guarantee yourself a seat. An official plot synopsis and trailer for the film can be found below.
Anthony Weiner was a young congressman on the cusp of higher office when a sexting scandal forced a humiliating resignation. Just two years later, he ran for mayor of New York City, betting that his ideas would trump his indiscretions. He was wrong. With unprecedented access to Weiner, his family and his campaign team, Weiner is a thrilling look inside a political comeback-turned-meltdown. What begins as an unexpected surge to the top of the polls takes a sharp turn once Weiner is forced to admit to new sexting allegations. As the media descends and dissects his every move, Weiner desperately tries to forge ahead, but the increasing pressure and crippling 24-hour news coverage halt his political aspirations. With the city of New York as a loud and bustling backdrop, Weiner walks the line between political farce and personal tragedy as it plunges through an increasingly baffling political campaign with unflinching clarity, humor, and pathos.