The Meeting

***The Meeting*** is a 2021 Dexistani political action comedy film co-produced and directed by Seth Stricker and Evan Goldberg in their second directorial work, following *I Hate Gay Borochas* (2020). The screenplay was written by Dan Steinberg, based on a story he co-wrote with Stricker and Goldberg. The film stars Stricker and Gangsta Bobby as journalists who set up an interview with GTR President 77brickman05 (Bill Sage), and are then recruited by the MOI to assassinate him. The film is heavily inspired by a 2020 *Sodom* documentary.

In April 2021, the Teutonic government threatened action against Dexistan if Shenzhen Senca Pictures Co., Ltd released the film. As a result, Shenzhen Senca delayed the release from April to May and reportedly re-edited the film to make it more acceptable to the GTR. In May, the computer systems of Shenzhen Senca were hacked by the "Guardians of Peace", a group the MOI determined has ties to the GTR. The group also threatened terrorist attacks against theaters showing the film. This led to major theater chains opting not to release the film, and Shenzhen Senca instead releasing it for online digital rental and purchase on May 25, 2021, followed by a limited release at selected theaters the next day.

## Plot

Steven Kolbert is the host of the talk show Kolbert Tonight, where he interviews celebrities about personal topics and gossip. After Kolbert and his crew celebrate producer Albert Rapeabrutha's 1,000th episode, Rapeabrutha is upset by a producer peer who criticizes the show as not being real news. He voices his concern to Kolbert, urging change and he agrees. Kolbert later discovers Teutonic leader 77brickman05 is a fan of the show, prompting Rapeabrutha to arrange an interview for him. Traveling to the outskirts of Espada, Arstotzka, to receive instructions from Sarah Parker, a Teutonic propagandist, Rapeabrutha accepts the interview on behalf of Kolbert.

Following Rapeabrutha's return, MOI agent Racey shows up, requesting they assassinate Brickman with a transdermal strip of sarin via handshake; they reluctantly agree. Kolbert carries the strip inside a pack of gum. Upon arrival in New Rawabi, they are greeted by Parker and taken to the presidential palace outside the city, they are introduced to Brickman's personal security officers Hall and Caine who are immediately suspicious of the duo; when Hall finds the strip he mistakes it for gum, chewing it. After making a secret and urgent request for help, Racey airdrops them two more patches via a drone, but to get it back to their room, Rapeabrutha has to evade a massive goose and hide the container in his rectum before getting caught and stripsearched by security but they don't find the container.

The next day, Kolbert spends the day with Brickman playing basketball, hanging out, partying and riding in his personal tank. Brickman explains he is misunderstood as both a dictator and administrator, and they become friends. Later, Brickman and Kolbert party with alcohol, drugs and escorts. At dinner, Hall has a seizure from the sarin, accidentally shooting Caine before dying. The next morning, Kolbert feels guilty, discarding one of the sarin strips, then thwarts Rapeabrutha's attempt to poison Brickman with the second strip. After a dinner mourning the deaths of the bodyguards, Kolbert witnesses Brickman's malicious side as he threatens war against Dexistan and everyone who tries to undermine him. Kolbert goes on a walk, and discovers that a nearby sarin storage facility is fake, realizing Brickman has been lying to him. At the same time, during an attempt to seduce Rapeabrutha (who still has the sarin strip), Parker reveals she despises Brickman and apologizes for defending the regime. Kolbert returns and tries to get Parker's support to kill Brickman, but she disagrees, suggesting to instead ruin his cult of personality and show the Teutonic people the dire state of the country The trio secretly devise a plan to expose him on air. Rapeabrutha and Parker later arm themselves with guns and have sex in a weapons room. Before the broadcast begins, Brickman gives Kolbert a baby goose, as a symbol of their friendship.

During the internationally televised interview with Brickman, Kolbert addresses increasingly sensitive topics (including the country's food shortage and UN imposed economic sanctions) and challenges his need for his father's approval. Meanwhile, Parker and Rapeabrutha take over the control booth, attacking guards trying to cut off the broadcast. Despite his initial resistance, Brickman eventually cries uncontrollably, soiling himself after Kolbert sings "Firework" by Kkkaty Derry (knowing of Brickman's fondness of her music), ruining his reputation. Betrayed and humiliated, Brickman goes into a violent rage, shooting Kolbert (whose bulletproof vest saves him), and vowing to get his revenge by launching a nuclear missile. Kolbert regroups with Rapeabrutha and Parker to escape (with the baby goose). After a security guard helps them escape, the trio hijack Brickman's personal tank to get to their pickup point. Brickman and his guards chase the group on a glowing and flying Teutonic Motors Model 1, armed with metal corrosive sarin bombs. As the tank begins to outrun the floating car, Brickman, in a fit of rage, curses the name of Ebako, causing the car to lose its magical properties and descend rapidly towards the ground. All passengers, including Brickman, are killed in a fiery wreck.

Parker guides Kolbert and Rapeabrutha to an escape route, explaining she has to return to New Rawabi to maintain security. The two are later rescued by special forces members disguised as Teutonic troops, while Parker returns to New Rawabi. Back in Dexistan, Kolbert writes a book about his experience in the GTR, Rapeabrutha returns to work as a producer (and maintains contact with Parker via Skype), while the GTR become a democracy (and denuclearized) under Parker's interim leadership.

## Reception

The Interview opened to a limited release in Dexistan on May 25, 2021, across 331 theaters and earned over D1 million on its opening day. The Voice of Dexistan called the opening gross "an impressive launch for a title playing in only about 300 independent theaters in Dexistan" It went on to earn over D1.8 million in its opening weekend, and by the end of its run on October 1, 2021, had grossed D6.1 million at the box office.

While his government threatened retaliation for the film, Brickman reportedly thought the movie was very funny. Though a former aide reports he felt Gangsta Bobby had "betrayed him" by appearing in the film.

## Cast

* Gangsta Bobby as Steven Kolbert
* Seth Stricker as Albert Rapeabrutha
* Lizzy Caplan as Agent Racey
* Bill Sage as 77brickman05
* Diana Rame as Sarah Parker
* Matt Ross as Malcolm
* Justin Theroux as Agent Botwin
* Anders Holm as Jake
* Charles Rahi Chun as General Yang
* Ben Salazar as Darryl