Sometimes a film stumbles into its timeliness with poetic coincidence. With all the talk of whistleblowers currently dominating the news, albeit the other side of the pond this time, there’s something rebellious and empowering about Official Secrets arriving at this moment. It’s also a film that highlights the importance of a well-crafted script and a director who knows how to compose tension. In the wrong hands this could have been stale and dull, instead, under the watchful eye of Gavin Hood, it’s a brilliantly aggravating film that ignites a revolt within you, but keeps you calm and focused.
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Based on the true story of Katharine Gun (Keira Knightley), a young translator for British Intelligence, who is less than comfortable when an email from the US encourages the spying on UN members who might be able to swing the vote in favour of war in Iraq. She leaks the email, and soon a group of reporters (Matt Smith, Matthew Goode, and Rhys Ifans among them) are attempting to verify and back up the leaked email. Hood takes on a procedural tone to gradually build the film’s tone and threats, though, despite the elevated tension, he never goes too far. The film actually feels very quaint and British, by never ramping up the action to insane levels of explosions and assassins. A train journey here, copying files there, it’s all based in realism and thus hits harder.
Knightley gives a career-best performance in a beautifully complex role. She’s a woman who plays by the rules but isn’t so morally naive that she blindly follows orders. There’s a toughness to her and Knightley captures this well, before soon seeing her character lose control and fall into instant regret. However, by this time it’s far too late to change the course and so she embraces it. She’s the reluctant hero and one who goes on a journey to show her weaknesses, strengths, regrets, and pride.
Related: Filming is underway on Gavin Hood’s Official Secrets
As Official Secrets continues, it becomes this bittersweet tragedy, that still instills hope in the audience, as well as annoyance and anger. Of course, Gun’s efforts were in vain as the UK and US went to war anyway, but the final act makes sure we remember this tale that has been almost forgotten. Just because our acts may not have an effect, here we see how memories of such acts may inspire the future.
A cautionary morality tale that questions those in power may seem like it will be lecturing its audience, but thankfully the script from Hood, Sara Bernstein, and Gregory Bernstein, paints every character on a human level and avoids a ‘big bad’ (that would be the unseen governments). There’s also humanity that resonates throughout, from Gun’s marriage to an asylum seeker (Adam Bakri) to Gun’s lawyer (Ralph Fiennes) conducting off the record talks while fishing.
Official Secrets is powerful stuff, a thrilling account of an act of superior morality. With the supporting cast giving their all, and Megan Gill editing scenes to heighten drama without instilling motion sickness – It turns phone calls, meetings, and even spellcheck, into tense and engaging set pieces – we are constantly in the edge of our seat while waving our fists in frustration. An important film that hopefully won’t be as forgotten as it’s subject matter.
Official Secrets is released in cinemas on 18th October.
