Elizabeth Holmes Enters the Oscar Race With New Documentary
Elizabeth Holmes remains the subject of intense public fascination, with a new film exploring her character just as she serves a federal prison sentence for defrauding investors. You Can See Everything has emerged as one of the buzziest films of recent times, sparking speculation that it could land an Oscar nomination for best picture—the first time ever for a documentary.
The project follows Holmes, her partner Billy Evans, and their two small children in the weeks just before she reported to federal prison in May 2023. Nathan Fielder and his co-director Lance Oppenheim directed the film, gaining unexpected access to the former Theranos founder as she attempted to rehabilitate her public image. Fielder admitted on stage after the premiere at the New York Film Festival that he was initially just curious to meet her and did not set out to make a documentary about her.
Inside the Genesis of You Can See Everything
Before her spectacular fall, Holmes cultivated a striking image as a self-made billionaire and founder of Theranos, a health technology company that claimed to have invented a device that could diagnose illnesses with a single pinprick of blood. Her signature look—encapsulated by a Fortune magazine cover featuring a wide-eyed stare, bright red lips, and a Steve Jobs-style black turtleneck—defined her ascent. In the new documentary, that polished aesthetic is replaced by scenes of Holmes barefoot and rocking her baby.
YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING, a documentary by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim. Featuring Elizabeth Holmes. Only in theaters this October. pic.twitter.com/b3Pcx0Se2o
Oppenheim learned that Holmes had reached out to film companies and talked to A24, prompting him and Fielder to meet with the company and subsequently with Holmes. Fielder expressed surprise that she agreed to participate, noting at the New York premiere that he did not expect to be the person she would want involved. Standby lines for the festival premiere wrapped around the block, and screenings drew critical praise using terms like masterpiece.
Public Obsession and Prior Media Portrayals
Holmes’s ongoing fame aligns with contemporary skepticism toward big tech, adding a visceral charge to her company’s failures because it dealt with people’s health. A 2019 Guardian article characterized her story as a true crime saga blending schadenfreude with an icy persona and a mysteriously deep voice. Her case has previously inspired Alex Gibney’s documentary The Inventor, the podcast The Dropout, and a dramatic series of the same name that earned Amanda Seyfried an Emmy.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Elizabeth Holmes go to prison?
Holmes reported to federal prison in May 2023 following her conviction for defrauding investors over false claims regarding Theranos blood-testing technology.
Who directed You Can See Everything?
The documentary was directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, who captured footage of Holmes and her family in the weeks prior to her incarceration.
What was the core claim of Theranos?
Theranos claimed to have invented a health technology device that could diagnose various illnesses using only a single pinprick of blood, though the technology ultimately did not work as advertised.
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