In the movie The Interpreter, Silvia Broome (played by Nicole Kidman) is a skilled interpreter who works at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. One day, while in a sound booth at work, she overhears a conversation between two men discussing a plan to assassinate the controversial leader of the African nation of Matobo, who is scheduled to give a speech at the UN in a few days.
Silvia immediately reports the conversation to the authorities at the UN, who in turn contact the US Secret Service. The Secret Service sends agent Tobin Keller (played by Sean Penn) to investigate the situation and protect the Matoban leader from harm.
As Tobin and his team work to track down the individuals behind the assassination plot, they must also contend with Silvia's mysterious past and her possible involvement in the plot. Along the way, Tobin and Silvia develop a complicated and tense relationship, with each one unsure whether they can trust the other.
As the day of the Matoban leader's speech approaches, tensions rise and the threat of violence hangs over the UN headquarters. Tobin and Silvia must work together to unravel the conspiracy and prevent a political crisis from becoming a bloody tragedy.