The Argument

Sometimes viewed as a companion piece to Lucifer Rising, Cammell’s 1972 short was left incomplete by the director and rediscovered and finished by his editor and close collaborator Frank Mazzola in 1999. The result is a visually stunning piece of work, shot in Bryce Canyon by the great Vilmos Zsigmond in glorious color and Cinemascope, with Myriam Gibril as Aisha the Witch and Kendrew Lascelles as the Director shouting a philosophical dialogue amidst the echoing rock formations.

Directed by Donald Cammell, The Argument leans on a strong ensemble — Myriam Gibril, Kendrew Lascelles — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 1999.