Drama,Thriller,War,Romance
United States of America,United Kingdom
Official Secrets is a 2019 British-American docudrama directed by Gavin Hood, which tells the true story of Katharine Gun, who worked as a British intelligence officer in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq War. It is based on the book, The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War: Katharine Gun and the Secret Plot to Sanction the Iraq Invasion by Marcia and Thomas Mitchell.
The film portrays Gun, played by Keira Knightley, as a committed civil servant who becomes disillusioned with the illegal actions of her government and decides to take matters into her own hands. In January 2003, Gun receives an email from the NSA with a request to gather intelligence on UN diplomats, specifically from Angola, Cameroon, Chile, Bulgaria, and Guinea, who were negotiating a resolution about whether to approve the US-led invasion of Iraq. The memo suggested “the whole gamut of information that could give US policymakers an edge in obtaining results favorable to US goals or to head off surprises.”
Shocked by the content of the memo, Gun leaks it to an anti-war activist, Yvonne Ridley (Hattie Morahan), who then passes it onto journalist Martin Bright (Matt Smith) of The Observer newspaper. After verifying the authenticity of the memo, the paper publishes it, sparking an international scandal. Gun is subsequently arrested and charged under the Official Secrets Act, an action that threatens to ruin her life entirely.
The film portrays Gun as a brave woman who is willing to risk everything to expose the truth and prevent a needless war. It also shows the political machinations behind the US-led invasion of Iraq and the willingness of the British government to go along with it in spite of the lack of evidence of weapons of mass destruction.
Official Secrets received critical acclaim for its performances, direction, and portrayal of the events surrounding the Iraq War. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of accountability and transparency in government, and the sacrifices made by those who are willing to challenge the status quo to do the right thing.
