How the Director of Wu-Tang Clan Doc ‘The Disciple’ Unraveled the ‘Wild’ and Untold Story of Cilvaringz and the ‘Once Upon a Time in Shaolin’ Saga

Netflix's first Academy Award win did not come from a blockbuster film, but from a 2016 documentary short. The Oscar was awarded to "The White Helmets," a film chronicling the life-saving work of civilian volunteers in Syria. Its producer, Joanna Natasegara, is known for her incisive documentaries on international conflict. A decade later, she has shifted focus for her directorial feature debut, "The Disciple," which recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival—an event renowned for launching independent cinema since 1978.

The film follows the unique story of Dutch-Moroccan musician Cilvaringz, born Tarik Azzougarh. A superfan in the 1990s, he managed to ingratiate himself with the iconic Wu-Tang Clan, eventually touring the world as a member under the mentorship of the group's leader, RZA. His narrative is inextricably linked to one of music's most notorious artifacts: "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin." Produced by Cilvaringz, this was a single-copy album conceived as a critique of art's commodification in the digital age. Its sale at auction for a record $2 million, however, was overshadowed when the buyer was revealed to be Martin Shkreli. Shkreli, the former pharmaceutical executive convicted of fraud in 2017 and widely known as "Pharma Bro," became a controversial figure whose involvement fundamentally altered the project's intended message.

As a longtime Wu-Tang fan herself, Natasegara was adamant about avoiding a sensationalist film. "I didn't want to make a beef movie," she states. "Their core philosophy isn't about conflict; it's about spirituality, hard work, and mutual respect." Her goal was to capture this ethos while exploring Cilvaringz's ascent and the complex legacy of the unique album. Securing RZA as an executive producer was crucial. "His presence is genuinely impressive and carries a certain mystique," Natasegara observes. To ensure narrative authenticity, the documentary uses RZA's own contemporaneous audio reflections recorded over years, a technique the artist reportedly favored over traditional interviews.

Natasegara's personal connection to the material proved vital. Meeting Cilvaringz in Morocco, she realized his full story was untold. "We're from the same generation, so the themes of 90s youth culture and fandom deeply resonated with me," she explains. This shared context helped build the transparency and ethical foundation she prioritizes, involving extensive pre-filming consultations with all subjects. This approach allowed the editing to present balanced perspectives on the album's controversial history. The film's positive core has resonated; one young viewer was reportedly moved to tears, saying it restored a sense of collective ambition she thought her generation had lost.

Ultimately, "The Disciple" frames Cilvaringz's journey as a lesson in audacious perseverance, summed up by his mantra: "What’s the worst that can happen? Just go for it." Natasegara refrains from delivering a final verdict on the "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin" experiment, instead presenting the facts for audience interpretation. As for the music itself, which very few have heard, Natasegara—having listened to segments—confirms early assessments that it powerfully echoes the group's classic sound. "The quality is undeniable," she says. "It stands up to their seminal work."