More than a decade after Rob Ford stunned the world with scandal after scandal, a new Netflix documentary, Trainwreck: Mayor of Mayhem, takes a deeper look at the man behind the chaos. Directed by London-born filmmaker Shianne Brown, the episode is part of Netflix’s “Trainwreck” anthology, which unpacks major media firestorms.

Brown revisits the infamous 2013 moment when news broke that Toronto’s mayor had been caught smoking crack cocaine — a revelation that turned Ford into an international spectacle. But rather than focus solely on the headlines, Brown says her goal was to explore the human being behind the controversy, presenting a more nuanced portrait of Ford’s rise to power and public unraveling.

The documentary features archival footage and interviews with journalists, city insiders, and even Ford’s former driver. Though Doug Ford declined to participate, the film still pieces together the populist appeal that propelled Rob Ford into office — and the personal struggles that contributed to his dramatic fall.

Brown reflects on Ford’s connection with everyday people and the lasting relevance of his outsider appeal in a political climate increasingly shaped by disenfranchised voices. She also delves into how Ford’s substance abuse struggles were often sensationalized in the media at a time when mental health wasn’t discussed as openly as today.

Ultimately, Trainwreck: Mayor of Mayhem doesn’t aim to exonerate or vilify Rob Ford, but to encourage viewers to reflect on how — and why — his story unfolded the way it did.