Safe thing to say that probably everybody has an opinion about Julian Assange. Like a lot of people I have been following Julian’s story over the years. For me I keep up with the basics when something pops up in the news or on socials. I’m passionate about freedom of the press and this story that has been evolving much of my adult life. So when I saw the trailer, it hooked my interest immediately.

Ithaka is a documentary which focuses on the time period of Assange’s arrest in 2019 to the outcome of his extradition hearing. The viewpoint is from his father, John Shipton, who has become an advocate for his son’s freedom. This more so John’s story on how and why he is doing what is and shows the impact it has had on him. Written and directed by Ben Lawrence and produced by Julian’s bother Gabriel Shipton, it’s a really well made documentary.

The soundtrack is an original score provided by Brian Eno and beautifully delivers emotional keys at all the right moments. When the credits rolled and I saw Brian Eno’s name, it all made sense!

One of the things that I found striking was how much Julian and his father John seem to share common traits, which when I say out loud sounds kind of silly given that they are father and son after all. I guess when you don’t know either person in that situation personally, to have that observation feels like there is some weight against it. Particularly when Julian’s finance (Stella Moris) makes a similar remark in the documentary. Perhaps it gives one some insight into how Julian might be coping by the way that his father processes and manages things in his life.

While this documentary is important to provide a voice for Julian (who can no longer speak for himself) and why his freedom is imperative to freedom of the press, it does a great job to balance Julian as a human being and the impact that this case is having on his family. It’s easy to wrap up Julian into some kind of martyr but behind that is a man dealing with the weight of being relentless pursued by powerful governments, who is currently in solitary confinement for majority of his time in a maximum security prison facing a “worse than death” fate. Around him is a family with two sons growing up without a parent and an elderly parent trying to hold it together to get his son “out of the shit”.

Ithaka has given me a greater appreciation for Julian, his family, legal team, and all the supporters out there who battle this beast on a daily basis. There are so many people and organisations behind this cause, some who face consequences by providing their support. I continue to be outraged by the injustice and if one little thing I can do is to make you aware of this documentary, that’s what I will do.

This documentary will present you with a lot of facts and footage, some that will take your breath away, all of it important. While the struggles of the individuals are important to acknowledge, so is the cause.

“If he goes down, so will journalism” – John Shipton

Rating:  A Must See