Seymour Hersh, one of the most influential US journalists of the last 60 years, is the sometimes reluctant subject of a new documentary that probes his biggest scoops and occasional missteps, as well as his private life.

Co-directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Laura Poitras, “Cover-Up” debuted at the Venice Film Festival on Friday, revealing both 88-year-old Hersh’s twinkly charm and his frequently spiky character.

“This is becoming less and less fun. I’d like to quit,” Hersh tells Poitras and co-director Mark Obenhaus at one point in the documentary, regretting his decision to sit for the wide-ranging 117-minute film.

“I was very happy not talking about myself, very happy.”

Hersh opens the door slightly on his life, with viewers learning about his sometimes tough childhood in Chicago a

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