Cody Wilson turned a toothpick over in his mouth and swirled the olive-adorned drink in front of him.

“I don’t ask anyone to be sympathetic to my position,” he said. “I don’t think I’m a very sympathetic character.”

The 28-year-old may or may not be on to something when he makes that statement about his personality. He is decidedly on-point when he makes it about his ideas.

Wilson is part of a loose group of techno-anarchists, or crypto-anarchists. Together with such figures as Bitcoin developer Amir Taaki and, somewhat more distantly, the ‎likes of Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, he seeks to overthrow established systems by using new forms of digital savvy and aggression. These are, needless to say, far from consensus beliefs..


FULL COVERAGE: Sundance 2017 »

Wilson’s ideology, ascent and travails are followed in Adam Bhala Lough’s “The New ‎Radical.” The youth-culture filmmaker’s latest documentary, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this week, takes viewers on a sweep through an underground world, offering as much a portrait of a new and subversive way of thinking as of the thinkers themselves.‎ Told slickly if not always explanatorily, “New Radical” follows such initiatives as Defense Distributed, a digital file that allows anyone with a 3-D printer to create their own gun away from government oversight, and Dark Wallet, a kind of Internet market in the shadows where digital currency can move undetected.‎

At the center of it all is Wilson, who founded and created the file for Defense Distributed and is a key cog in Dark Wallet.

As it has played at Sundance several times over the course of the week, “Radical” has landed with all the gentleness of a Molotov cocktail. Despite their ambition, issue-minded movies at this gathering tend to fall into a comfortable set of mainstream center-left positions; someone who occupies both the extreme right and left ends of the spectrum (depending on the issue) will almost inherently be a feather-ruffler.


Power is the threat of violence. Cody Wilson

In “New Radical,” the archetype alluded to by the title looks to create fundamental political change by pushing for one or more of the following: an eradication of intellectual-property laws, radical free speech, fierce encryption to protect that speech, anonymous money (basically, digital currency not controlled or monitored by any government) and a general disdain for traditional legislative structures.

Wilson has added another element: weapons. The hyper-articulate Arkansas native came into the public eye in 2013 when Defense Distributed released the blueprint for its first gun, called The Liberator. The program essentially allows anyone with access to a 3-D printer to make an end run around gun regulations by printing a plastic weapon at home.

“The project started with guns. It was like, ‘If you combine WikiLeaks and guns — guns and the Internet — doesn’t that change the political?’ Power is the threat of violence,” he said. The mere possibility that anyone can take up arms will, in Wilson’s view, keep everyone in check — in turn both neutralizing government and taking over its order-maintaining function.


1 / 193 John Lithgow and Salma Hayek from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 193 Director and actress Michelle Morgan from the film “L.A. Times.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 193 Director Dan Sickles, left, director Antonio Santini and director of photography Adam Uhl from the film “Dina.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 193 Director of photography Adam Uhl from the film “Dina.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 193 Director Danny Strong, left, actor Nicholas Hoult and actress Zoey Deutch from the film “Rebel in the Rye.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 193 Actress Lois Smith from the film “Marjorie Prime.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 193 Actor Jon Hamm from the film “Marjorie Prime.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 193 Actor Mark Hamill from the film “Brigsby Bear.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 193 Actor Nick Offerman from the film “The Hero.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 193 Director Jovanka Vuckovic from the film, “XX.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 193 Actress India Menuez from the Amazon series “I Love Dick.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 193 Actress Laura Prepon from the film “The Hero.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 193 Actor Sam Elliott from the film “The Hero.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 193 Director Annie Clark (also known as the musician, St. Vincent) from the film “XX.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 193 Director Joshua Z. Weinstein, left, and Menashe Lustig from “Menashe” at the Sundance Film Festial in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 23. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 193 Actress Zoe Chao, left, co-director Celia Rowlson-Hall, co-director Mia Lidofsky and actress Meredith Hagne from the television movie “Strangers.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 193 Actor Martin Donovan, left, actress Julia Ordmond, director Mark Palansky and actor Peter Dinklage from the film “Rememory.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 193 Actress Madeline Weinstein from the film “Beach Rats.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 193 Ryan Horrigan, left, Paul Raphael, Felix Jajeunesse and Sebastian Sylvan from the film “Miyubi.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 193 Actor Harris Dickinson from the film “Beach Rats.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 193 Director Eliza Hittman from “Beach Rats.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 193 Actresses Nefessa Williams, left, Adriyan Rae, Steve Harris, Seryah and Imani Hakim from the film “Burning Sands.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 193 Actor Jon Daly, left, director Janicza Bravo, actress Judy Greer, actress Shiri Appelby and actor Brett Gelman of “Lemon.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 193 Director Julia Ducournau from the film “Raw.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 193 Actress Anya Taylor-Joy, director Cory Finley and actress Olivia Cooke from the film “Thoroughbred.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 193 Director Matt Heineman, second from right, and citizen journalists Mohamad Almusari, left, Hamoud Almousa and Abdalaziz from the documentary film “City of Ghosts.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 193 Subjects Raj Majethia and Victoria Harrelson from the documentary film “The Mars Generation.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 193 Subject Raj Majethia, left, director Michael Barnett and subject Victoria Harrelson from the documentary film “The Mars Generation.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 193 Actor Adam Horowitz, left, actress Emily Browning, director Alex Ross Perry and actress Analeigh Tipton from the film “Golden Exits.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 193 Director Wally Wolodarsky, left, actor Jack Black, actress Jenny Slate, director Maya Forbes, actress Jacki Weaver and actor Willie Garson from the film “The Polka King.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 193 Director Rory Kennedy and surfer Laird Hamilton, from the documentary film “Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 193 Actress Julia Jones from the film “Wind River.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 193 Actress Kelsy Asbille from the film “Wind River.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 193 Director Kogonada from the film “Columbus.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 193 Actor Rory Culkin, left, actor John Cho, actress Michelle Forbes, actress Haley Lu Richardson and actor Parker Posey from the film, “Columbus.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 193 Director Taylor Sheridan from the film “Wind River.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 193 Actress Gigi Gorgeous and director Barbara Kopple from the film “This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 193 Actress Gigi Gorgeous, from “This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 193 Executive Producer Danny Glover, left, and director Yance Ford from the documentary film “Strong Island.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 193 Actor Sam Elliott, left, actor Nick Offerman, director Brett Haley, actress Katharine Ross and actress Laura Prepon from the film “The Hero.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 193 Co-Executive Producer Sarah Gubbins, left, actor Griffin Dunne, actress India Menuez (kneeling), actress Roberta Colindrez, actor Kevin Bacon, director Jill Soloway, actress Kathryn Hahn and Lily Mojekwu from the Amazon series “I Love Dick.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 193 Actress Kathryn Hahn, actress Roberta Colindrez and director Jill Soloway from the Amazon series “I Love Dick.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 193 Actor Jason Isaacs and Crash from the film “Red Dog: True Blue.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 193 Actor Sasheer Zamata, director Sydney Freeland, actress Danielle Nicolet, actor David Sullivan, actress Rachel Crow and actress Ashleigh Murray, from the film “Diedra and Laney Rob a Train.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 193 Actor Daniel Houck and director Stefan Avalos from the documentary film “Strad Style.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 193 Actor Jeremy Renner from the film “Wind River,.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 193 Director/actor Zoe Lister-Jones from the film “Band Aid.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 193 Actress Chloe Sevigny from the film “Golden Exits.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 49 / 193 Actor Jack Black from the film “The Polka King.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 50 / 193 Surfer Laird Hamilton, subject of the documentary film “Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 193 Actress Julia Jones from the film “Wind River.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 52 / 193 Actress Kelsy Asbille from the film “Wind River.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 53 / 193 Actress America Ferrera from the new Web series “Gente-fied.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 54 / 193 Director Miguel Arteta from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 55 / 193 Actress Connie Britton from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 56 / 193 Actress Salma Hayek from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 57 / 193 Actor Jay Duplass jumps behind writer-director Gillian Robespierre, actress Jenny Slate, actress Edie Falco and actress Abby Quinn from the film “Landline.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 58 / 193 Actor Blake Jenner, actor Logan Lerman, actress Elle Fanning and actress Michelle Monaghan from the film “Sidney Hall.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 59 / 193 Actress Natalie Paul, left, actor Lakeith Stanfield, screenwriter Matt Ruskin and actor-producer Nnamdi Asomugha, from the film “Crown Heights.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 60 / 193 Actress Judy Greer, left, actor Woody Harrelson and actress Laura Dein, from the film “Wilson.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 61 / 193 Actress Isabella Amara, from the film “Wilson.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 62 / 193 Actor Josh O’Connor, left, director Francis Lee and actor Alec Secareanu, from the film “God’s Own Country.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 63 / 193 Jaque Fragua, director Michelle Latimer, center, and Sarain Carson-Fox, from the documentary film “Rise.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 64 / 193 Director Amir Bar-Lev, left, Steve Parrish and Trixie Garcia, from the documentary film “Long Strange Trip.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 65 / 193 Actress Connie Britton, from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 66 / 193 Actor-producer Nnamdi Asomugha, from the film “Crown Heights.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 67 / 193 Director Andrew Dosunmu from the film “Where Is Kyra.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 68 / 193 Actor John Lithgow, from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 69 / 193 Director Shawn Christensen from the film “Sidney Hall.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 70 / 193 Actor Garrett Hedlund, director Dee Rees, actor Rob Morgan, musician Mary J. Blige, and actress Cary Mulligan from the film “Mudbound.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 71 / 193 Geremy Jasper, director and writer of the film “Patti Cake$.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 72 / 193 Actress Danielle Macdonald from the film “Patti Cake$.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 73 / 193 Actress Laia Costa from the film “Newness.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 74 / 193 Actor Mamoudou Athie from the film “Patti Cake$.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 75 / 193 Actor Nicholas Hoult from the film “Newness.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 76 / 193 Actor Siddharth Dhananjay from the film “Patti Cake$.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 77 / 193 Actor Mamoudou Athie, left, actress Cathy Moriarty, actor Siddharth Dhananjay, director-writer Geremy Jasper, actress Bridget Everett and actress Danielle Macdonald from the film “Patti Cake$.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 78 / 193 Director Evgeny Afineevsky and subject Kholoud Helmi from the HBO documentary film “Cries From Syria.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 79 / 193 Subject Marli Renfro and director Alexandre O. Philippe from the documentary film “78/52.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 80 / 193 Actress Cathy Moriarty from the film “Patti Cake$.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 81 / 193 Actress Bridget Everett from the film “Patti Cake$.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 82 / 193 Actor Nicholas Hoult and director Drake Doremus from the film “Newness.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 83 / 193 Ben York Jones, screenwriter of the film “Newness.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 84 / 193 Actress Aisha Tyler, who participated in the Women’s March through Park City. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 85 / 193 Rashida Jones, Jill Bauer, and Ronna Gradus of the film, “Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 86 / 193 Co-writer Justin Lader, Director Charlie McDowell, and Alex Orlovsky of the film, “The Discovery.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 87 / 193 Actor David So of the film, “Gook.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 88 / 193 Actress Hania Amar of the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 89 / 193 Actor Fares Fares of the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 90 / 193 Director Tarik Saleh of the film, “The Nile Hilton Incident.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 91 / 193 Director Dee Rees of the film “Mudbound.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 92 / 193 Director Jim Strouse of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 93 / 193 Actor Tye Sheridan of the film, “Yellow Birds.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 94 / 193 Actress Pom Klementieff of the film, “Ingrid Goes West” and “Newness.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 95 / 193 Actor Jack Huston of the film, “Yellow Birds.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 96 / 193 Director Matt Spicer of the film “Ingrid Goes West.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 97 / 193 Directors Cary Murnion and Jonathan Milott of the film, “Bushwick.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 98 / 193 Actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer and Director Helene Hegemann of the film “Axolotl Overkil.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 99 / 193 Co-Director Sabbah Folyan, Kayla Reed, Tef Poe, Co-director Damon Davis of the documentary film, “Whose Streets.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 100 / 193 Actress Elizabeth Arjok, actor Fares Fares, director Tarik Saleh, actress Hania Amar, and actress Mari Malek of the film, “The Nile Hilton Incident.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 101 / 193 Roxanne Shanté, and actress Nia Long of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 102 / 193 Actor Michael Larnell, actress Chante Adams, Roxanne Shanté, actor Elvis Nolasco, and actress Nia Long of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 103 / 193 Director Morgan Neville, Cristoph Neimann, Tinker Hatfield, and Scott Dadich of the Netflix series, “Abstract: Art of Design.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 104 / 193 Cristoph Neimann of the Netflix series, “Abstract: Art of Design.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 105 / 193 Director Morgan Neville of the Netflix series, “Abstract: Art of Design.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 106 / 193 Scott Dadich of the Netflix series, “Abstract: Art of Design.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 107 / 193 Actress Omono Okojie of the film “Gook.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 108 / 193 Actor Curtiss Cook Jr., and actress Simone Baker of the film “Gook.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 109 / 193 Actress Brittny Snow and actor Dave Bautista of the film, “Bushwick.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 110 / 193 Director Austin Peter of the documentary film “Give Me Future.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 111 / 193 Actress Cary Mulligan of the film “Mudbound.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 112 / 193 Director and actor Justin Chon of the film, “Gook.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 113 / 193 Director Lone Scherfig of the film “Their Finest.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 114 / 193 Actress Pom Klementieff of the film “Ingrid Goes West.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 115 / 193 Director Alexandre Moors of the film, “Yellow Birds.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 116 / 193 Actor O’Shea Jackson Jr., actress Aubrey Plaza, director Matt Spicer, and actress Pom Klementieff of the film “Ingrid Goes West.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 117 / 193 Richard Vevers, Director Jeff Orlowski and Zackery Rago of he film, “Chasing Coral.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 118 / 193 Actress Chelsea Handler. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 119 / 193 Director Austin Peters, musician Jillionare, and singer/songwriter Diplo, of the documentary film “Give Me Future.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 120 / 193 Singer/songwriter Diplo, Thomas Wesley Pentz of the documentary film “Give Me Future.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 121 / 193 Musician Jillionaire of the documentary film “Give Me Future.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 122 / 193 Actor Lakeith Stanfield of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 123 / 193 Actor Chris O’Dowd of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 124 / 193 Actress Jessica Williams of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 125 / 193 Actress Aubrey Plaza of the film, “Ingrid Goes West.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 126 / 193 Actor O’Shea Jackson Jr. of the film “Ingrid Goes West.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 127 / 193 Actress Jessica Williams of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 128 / 193 Actress Mari Malek of the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 129 / 193 Actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer of the film “Axolotl Overkil.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 130 / 193 Executive Producer Tim Robbins and his son, Director Jack Henry Robbins, from the short “Hot Winter, A Film By Dick Pierre.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 131 / 193 Actor Michael Larnell of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 132 / 193 Actor Garrett Hedlund of the film “Mudbound.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 133 / 193 Executive Producers Christopher Cohen, Sean Hayes, Mark Herzog (kneeling) and Todd Milliner of the CNN series, “History of Comedy.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 134 / 193 Executive Producer Sean Hayes of the television series, “History of Comedy.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 135 / 193 Actress Melanie Lynskey of the film, “I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 136 / 193 Actress Nia Long of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 137 / 193 Actress Simone Baker of the film, “Gook.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 138 / 193 Actress Elizabeth Arjok of the film, “The Nile Hilton Incident.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 139 / 193 Roxanne Shante of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 140 / 193 Actor Elvis Nolasco of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 141 / 193 Jack Henry Robbins, from the short, “Hot Winter, A Film By Dick Pierre.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 142 / 193 Actress Mari Malek of the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 143 / 193 Actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer of the film “Axolotl Overkil.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 144 / 193 Actress Maya Stange, director Damien Power and actor Aaron Glenna from the film “Killing Ground.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 145 / 193 Actress Tavi Gevinson with the film “Person to Person.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 146 / 193 Dolores Huerta from the documentary “Dolores.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 147 / 193 Director (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 148 / 193 Actor Jorma Taccone from the film “L.A. Times.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 149 / 193 Actor Aaron Glenane from the film “Killing Ground.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 150 / 193 Actress Kate Micucci with the film “The Little Hours.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 151 / 193 Dree Hemingway with the film “L.A. Times.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 152 / 193 Directors Andrew Smith and Alex Smith with the film “Walking Out.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 153 / 193 Actress Molly Shannon from the film “The Little Hours.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 154 / 193 Actor Jason Ritter with the film “Bitch.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 155 / 193 Lauren Weedman, actor Jon Gabrus, actress Kate Micucci, director Jeff Baena, actress Alison Brie, actor Dave Franco, Adam Pally and actress Molly Shannon with the film “The Little Hours.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 156 / 193 Actor Dave Franco with the film “The Little Hours.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 157 / 193 Actress/director Michelle Morgan and actors Jorma Taccone and Dree Hemingway from the film “L.A. Times.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 158 / 193 Director Marina Zenovich of the film “Water and Power.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 159 / 193 Actress Abbi Jacobson with the film “Person to Person.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 160 / 193 Actress Florence Pugh and director William Oldroyd from the film “Lady MacBeth.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 161 / 193 Producer Ryland Aldrich, from the film “L.A. Times.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 162 / 193 Actress Maya Stange with the film “Killing Ground.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 163 / 193 Front: Actors Kingston Foster and Jason Maybaum; back: actors Rio Mangini Jason Ritter and Brighton Sharbino from the film “Bitch.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 164 / 193 Actress Kingston Foster, director Marianna Palka, actress Brighton Sharbino, actor Rio Mangini, actor Jason Ritter, actor Jason Maybaum, actress Jaime King and actor Zac Clark with the film “Bitch.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 165 / 193 Director Marianna Palka with the film “Bitch.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 166 / 193 Actress Brighton Sharbino mingles with the rest of the cast of the film “Bitch.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 167 / 193 Director Amanda Lipitz, center, and step team members, from left, Tayla Solomon, Cori Granger and Blessin Giraldo from the documentary “Step.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 168 / 193 Directors Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen with the film “Follow Up to An Inconvenient Truth.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 169 / 193 Producer Carlos Santana with the film “Dolores.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 170 / 193 Team members, from left, Tayla Solomon, Cori Granger and Blessin Giraldo from the documentary “Step.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 171 / 193 Director Kristen Stewart and actor Josh Kaye with the film “Come Swim.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 172 / 193 Actress Zoe Kazan with the film “The Big Sick.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 173 / 193 Joshua Wong and director Joe Piscatella with the documentary “Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 174 / 193 From left, producer Barry Mendel, actress Holly Hunter, director Michael Showalter, actress Zoe Karan, writer Emily V. Gordon, writer Kumail Nanjiani, and producer Judd Apatow with the film “The Big Sick.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 175 / 193 Husband and wife co-writers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon from “The Big Sick.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 176 / 193 Consulting Producer Benjamin Bratt of the film “Dolores.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 177 / 193 Director Kristen Stewart of the film “Come Swim.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 178 / 193 Actress Holly Hunter with the film “The Big Sick.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 179 / 193 Actor Logan Miller, actress Cynthy Wu, director Ry-Russo Young and actresses Zoey Deutch, Elena Kampouris, Medalion Rahimi and Jennifer Beals, from the film “Before I Fall.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 180 / 193 Actress Zoey Deutch, from the film “Before I Fall.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 181 / 193 Actress Medalion Rahimi, from the film “Before I Fall.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 182 / 193 Actress Elena Kampouris, from the film “Before I Fall.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 183 / 193 Actress Jennifer Beals, from the film “Before I Fall.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 184 / 193 Actress Cynthy Wu, from the film “Before I Fall.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 185 / 193 Actor Logan Miller, from “Before I Fall.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 186 / 193 Actor Miles Fischer, from the television show “Playdates.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 187 / 193 Composer Dan Romer, from the films “The Little Hours” and “Chasing Coral.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 188 / 193 Director Jamie Greenberg, who’s at Sundance with the film “Future ’38.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 189 / 193 Directors Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau, with the documentary “Trophy.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 190 / 193 Peter Nicks director of the documentary film “The Force.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 191 / 193 Composer Dan Romer, attending Sundance with the films “The Little Hours” and “Chasing Coral.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 192 / 193 Actors Paul Scheer and Carla Gallo, from the television show “Playdates.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 193 / 193 Actors Paul Scheer, left, Carla Gallo and Miles Fisher, from the television show “Playdates.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Though the State Department shut him down shortly after he went online, Wilson continues to fight the battle in the courts, and says he is optimistic that he can win in the next few years. “What [judges] have been doing is piece by piece committing themselves to positions I hold. What I’m doing them is beating them slowly, death by a thousand paper cuts.”

Wilson speaks with a kind of intellectual turbocharge, casually using phrases such as “furious mimetic force” and assuming a level of political-philosophy literacy that would tax an advanced grad student. Radiating a no-nonsense confidence, Wilson can be off-putting to some; at the festival, that reaction has sometimes been palpable.

Silicon Valley needs to get its teeth kicked in whenever it can; I’m down for that first and foremost. Cody Wilson


His ideas, he said, took root in intensive readings of leftist political theory before sprouting into a new kind of hybrid. Indeed, Wilson confounds most traditional positions; figuring out where he stands on issues can be an exercise in checking off boxes from wildly different columns.

Here’s a quick list:

Intellectual-property rights, no; political leaders, really no; progressive politics, really, really no (“Liberalism is the thing we whistle while we assert our domination over people,” he says in the film); the tech world, pretty emphatically no (“Silicon Valley needs to get its teeth kicked in whenever it can; I’m down for that first and foremost,” he said in the interview).

Easy access to guns, yes; unfettered encryption, yes; radical free speech, yes; a monetary system untethered to any government, really yes; a government that itself withers away, Marx-style, really, really yes.


Wilson does take pains to separate himself from the alt-right. As he began to explain the distinctions, Bhala Lough jumped in to say that the movie was largely completed before that movement gained mainstream currency, then sought to change the subject, implicitly suggesting that such publicity would be radioactive.

1 / 122 Actor Peter Dinklage of the film “Rememory.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 122 Actress Shirley MacLaine, director Mark Pellington and actress Ann’Jewel Lee Dixon of the film “The Last Word.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 122 Actor Harris Dickinson of the film “Beach Rats.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 122 Actress Anne Heche of the film “The Last Word.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 122 Actress Adriyan Rae of the film “Burning Sands.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 122 Actress Shiri Appelby of the film “Lemon.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 122 Actor Brett Gelman of the film “Lemon.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 122 Director Janicza Bravo of the film “Lemon.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 122 Director Adam Bhala Lough, seated, and subject Cody Wilson of the film “The New Radical.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 122 Actress Isabella Amara of the film “Wilson.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 122 Andrew Dosunmu, director of the film “Where Is Kyra?” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 122 Actor John Lithgow of the film “Beatriz at Dinner.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 122 Actor Josh O’Connor of the film “God’s Own Country.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 122 Actress Connie Britton of the film “Beatriz at Dinner.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 122 Actress Michelle Monaghan of the film “Sidney Hall.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 122 Actress Judy Greer of the film “Wilson.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 122 Actress Elle Fanning of the film “Sidney Hall.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 122 Actor Jay Duplass of the film “Landline.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 122 Actress Salma Hayek of the film “Beatriz at Dinner.” (Jay L. 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Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 122 Director Jovanka Vuckovic from the film “XX.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 122 Director Sofia Carrillo from the film “XX.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 122 Director Yance Ford from the documentary film “Strong Island.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 122 Beastie Boy and actor Adam Horowitz from the film “Golden Exits.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 122 Director Roxanne Benjamin from the film, “XX.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 122 Actress Kelsy Asbille from the film “Wind River.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 122 Actress Lois Smith from the film “Marjorie Prime.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 122 Actress Geena Davis from the film “Marjorie Prime.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 122 Actor Mark Hamill from the film “Brigsby Bear.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 122 Actor Nicholas Hoult from the film “Rebel in the Rye.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 122 Producer Akiva Schaffer from the film “Brigsby Bear.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 122 Director Danny Strong from the film “Rebel in the Rye.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 122 Actor Kyle Mooney from the film “Brigsby Bear.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 122 Actor Jack Black of the film “The Polka King.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 122 Actor John Lithgow of the film “Beatriz at Dinner.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 122 India Menuez of the Amazon series “I Love Dick.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 122 Actor Jon Hamm of the film “Marjorie Prime.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 122 Actor Mark Hamill of the film “Brigsby Bear.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 122 Actress Anya Taylor-Joy of the film “Thoroughbred.” (Jay L. 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Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 65 / 122 Executive producer Tim Robbins, standing, and his son, director Jack Henry Robbins, from the short film “Hot Winter, A Film by Dick Pierre.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 66 / 122 Musician Jillionaire from the documentary film “Give Me Future.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 67 / 122 Actress Cary Mulligan from the film “Mudbound.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 68 / 122 Actress Chante Adams from the film “Roxanne Roxanne.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 69 / 122 Actor Fares Fares from the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 70 / 122 Actor Chris O’Dowd from the film “The Incredible Jessica James.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 71 / 122 Actor Lakeith Stanfield from the film “The Incredible Jessica James.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 72 / 122 Director Nacho Vigalondo from the film “Colossal.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 73 / 122 Actress Chelsea Handler, who led the Women’s March through Park City, Utah. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 74 / 122 Actress Aisha Tyler, who participated in the Women’s March through Park City. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 75 / 122 Executive producer Tim Robbins from the short film “Hot Winter, A Film by Dick Pierre.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 76 / 122 Actor Garrett Hedlund from the film “Mudbound.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 77 / 122 Director-writer Michael Larnell from the film “Roxanne Roxanne.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 78 / 122 Roxanne Shanté, subject of the biopic “Roxanne Roxanne.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 79 / 122 Actress Mari Malek from the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 80 / 122 Actor O’Shea Jackson Jr., from the film “Ingrid Goes West.” (Jay L. 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Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 90 / 122 Actor Chris O’Dowd of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 91 / 122 Actor Lakeith Stanfield of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 92 / 122 Music producer and DJ Thomas Wesley Pentz, known as Diplo, of the documentary film “Give Me Future.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 93 / 122 Actress Molly Shannon of the film “The Little Hours.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 94 / 122 Actor Dave Franco of the film “The Little Hours.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 95 / 122 Actress Alison Brie of the film “The Little Hours.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 96 / 122 Actress Kate Micucci of the film “The Little Hours.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 97 / 122 Actor Paul Sparks of the film “Thoroughbred.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 98 / 122 Dree Hemingway of the film “L.A. Times.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 99 / 122 Director and actress Michelle Morgan of the film “L.A. Times.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 100 / 122 Actor Jorma Taccone of the film “L.A. Times.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 101 / 122 Actress Abbi Jacobson of the film “Person to Person.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 102 / 122 Actress Olivia Luccardi of the film “Person to Person.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 103 / 122 Producer Carlos Santana of the film “Dolores.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 104 / 122 Actor Jason Ritter of the film “Bitch.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 105 / 122 Director Amanda Kernell of the film “Sami Blood.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 106 / 122 Director Peter Bratt and his brother Benjamin, producers of the documentary film “Dolores.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 107 / 122 Dolores Huerta of the film “Dolores.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 108 / 122 Actress Jamie King of the film “Bitch.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 109 / 122 Directors Andrew Smith and Alex Smith of the film “Walking Out.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 110 / 122 Actress Holly Hunter of the film “The Big Sick.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 111 / 122 Actor Logan Miller of the film “Before I Fall.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 112 / 122 Actress Carla Gallo from “Playdates.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 113 / 122 Producer Judd Apatow of the film “The Big Sick.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 114 / 122 Actress Cynthy Wu of the film “Before I Fall.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 115 / 122 Actor Paul Scheer from the television show “Playdates.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 116 / 122 Actress Zoey Deutch from the film “Before I Fall.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 117 / 122 Actress Medalion Rahimin from the film “Before I Fall.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 118 / 122 Actor Josh Kaye of the film “Come Swim.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 119 / 122 Actress Elena Kampouris of the film “Before I Fall.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 120 / 122 Joshua Wong of the documentary film “Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 121 / 122 Director Kristen Stewart of the film “Come Swim.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 122 / 122 Actress Zoe Kazan of the film “The Big Sick.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

The truth is that some of Wilson’s positions, particularly those involving guns, could be conflated with that movement’s. Then again, President Trump’s proclamation during the campaign that he was the “law-and-order candidate,” with its intimations of a strong, government-led police and military presence, are hardly the sorts of ideas most anarchists get on board with.

At Sundance screenings, questions directed at Wilson have at times been skeptical, even hostile, and laid bare the divisions at the festival, which takes place in a red libertarian state but is attended heavily by registered Democrats. Wilson, of course, occupies terrain all over the map.


“I love the fact that people will write him off as a gun nut and then [when they hear more] say, ... ‘I’m just conflicted about this guy now,’” Bhala Lough said.

The filmmaker takes few overt positions on his subject in the film. Even in person he is hard to read on the matter, though he certainly has grown close with Wilson. Bhala Lough said that he thinks his movie has some things in common with another piece about a man who fought a crusade with uncomfortable side effects.

“I thought a lot about ‘The People vs. Larry Flynt’ when I was making this movie,” the director said. “Was that a pro-porn film? He was a difficult person to love, but man, did he do some important things.” (Gun-control advocates might note some distinctions, both historical and legal, between the 1st and 2nd Amendments.)

Some of Wilson’s ideas have a seductiveness across the political spectrum. The notion that technology combined with radical speech could enable a toppling of the plutocracy taps into the same currents that elected Trump. Those opposed to the new president, meanwhile, would find in those ideas meaningful tools of resistance.


What the anarchist may not have satisfactorily explained, however, is what happens if his vision pans out as he says it would: What comes after a government crumbles? Could hundreds of millions of people exist, let alone be better off, without government so long as they owned guns and had their own Internet-enabled Swiss bank account? Would that not lead to vigilantism, or demagoguery, or other forms of exploitation?

“I’m not useful as a human. I’m useful as a cherub of the disaster to come,” Wilson says in the film, perhaps acknowledging where society will go if it follows his template, though more likely warning what will happen if it doesn’t.

He said in the interview that he was reckoning with what he can or wants to change.

“I’m trying to limit my expectation,” he said. “Maximum potentiality motivates me even as I wake up every day and see the limits of my own power.”


At the same time, he talked grandly about winning the 3-D gun case and then springboarding to other radical libertarian changes — “In order to do other stuff, we need to have the moral authority [on guns] first.” He also alluded mysteriously to soon “deploying a number of technologies I’ve sat on for years.”

So is Wilson the future or just a really good talker? A truth-talking prophet or just one more whippersnapping expression of digital overconfidence?

Is his prediction of a techno-enabled anarchy the stuff of pure prescience — a man who sees the emergent populism of the past American and European year not as a familiar pendulum-swing but the rumblings of something much deeper and longer lasting?

Or are such predictions the delusions of someone less powerful than he imagines, a man who uses theory-speak to make up for what he lacks in actual influence?


“The New Radical” doesn’t answer these questions. But at Sundance, perhaps for the first time in mainstream pop culture, they’re being asked.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour »

steve.zeitchik@latimes.com

Twitter: @ZeitchikLAT


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