Situation is further complicated by the fact that her husband Yasar Happened to Katharine Gun, so there is an element of suspense. Those who remember this recent history will know theīasic facts of the outcome but may not know the details of what Knightley’s character on trial, so we already know she will revealedĪs that leaker. Intelligence launches a hunt for the leaker. Journalist, and in the ensuing explosion of coverage, the British Invasion, that she eventually secretly shared the information in the Learns all her co-workers received it as well.īritish, and global, public are being deceived to justify the Iraq Memo that she wonders if it was sent to her by mistake, until she With the intention of blackmailing them into voting in favor of The memoįrom the NSA reveals a plan to enlist Britain’s help in collectingĬompromising information on United Nations Security Council members, Participate in questionable actiont as the Bush administration lays Startling memo in which the British government is asked to She transcribes or translates messages but one day she is sent a She rarely, if ever, sees anything of importance as In the building, she had to sign the Official Secrets Act agreement Job is little more than clerical and routine but like everyone else Low-level office worker in the British intelligence service. As with EYE IN THE SKY, Hood’s calm focus on the facts and human drama lets the audience draw their own conclusions rather than pushing a point-of-view, apart from reminding us of the human element in these political issues. Hood focuses on the people involved and the ethical dilemma and complex decision they face. Writer/director Gavin Hood uses the issues the story raises to connect to the present. The story is set in 2003, as the Bush administration is making the case for the invasion of Iraq. The excellent British cast includes Matt Smith, Ralph Fiennes, Matthew Goode, and Rhys Ifans. Intelligence, and risk being tried for treason. Official Secrets Act oath she signed when she joined the British This time Hood focuses on the case of a British intelligenceĪnalyst who decided the public’s right to know about government liesīeing used to justify going to war was worth the risk of breaking the Spotlighted the complex human and ethical issues underlying drone In the Helen Mirren-starring EYE IN THE SKY, Hood

WOLVERINE but he has recently offered up drama with serious subjectsīut featuring big enough stars to get the subject wide audienceĪttention. Hood has also directed action films like X_MEN ORIGINS: Topics with ethical complexities, starting with the Oscar-winning Hood has built a reputation for thoughtful dramas focused on timely Keira Knightley takes a break from period costumes to star in the true-story based political thriller OFFICIAL SECRETS, about a British intelligence specialist turns whistle-blower in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq. Keira Knightley as “Katharine Gun” in Gavin Hood’s Official Secrets.

Official secrets review