Official Secrets

Your actions are important and, sometimes, cinema too can be important. Films can elevate the achievements of people and inspire others.

Official Secrets is an investigative journalism-inspired thriller in the vein of Spotlight which depicts the actions of Katharine Gun, a British Intelligence worker who leaked a memo that requested her team spy on UN Council members in order to have bargaining power to, ostensibly, fix a vote so that the US could have legal discourse to invade Iraq.

Eye In The Sky Director Gavin Hood is behind the camera here and, once again, posits an essential document that has the power to make people think. It’s less about making the story ‘sexy’ and more pushing the envelope and encouraging conversation. Eye In The Sky was one to leave you talking the whole way home and, whilst the nature of this being a true story diminishes that aspect somewhat, it’s still hugely interesting.

Sure, Gun’s attempt to stop the war failed (no spoiler there) but her bravery and exposure of the war as illegal stoked the fires and correctly posited that we call out our governments and superiors should they be engaging in immoral actions.

Despite the story largely being told in dark British offices both at GCHQ and The Observer (who were the first to publish the memo) the film is positively gripping, propelled along by a slightly contrapuntal score which will find you absentmindedly chewing your nails. A scene involving Gun using an office printer suddenly becomes as nerve shredding as any thriller thanks to Hood.

An all star British cast are on top form to carry the story home. Keira Knightley is exceptional in the lead role as Gun in a multi-faceted portrayal and she is ably supported by brilliant turns from Matt Smith, Ralph Fiennes and Rhys Ifans to name just three.

It all builds to its climactic set piece at Katherine’s trial at Crown Court before Ralph Fiennes fishing is the scene that sees us out. It should all be set to be a bit of a highbrow, self-important snooze-fest but it’s never less than absolutely engaging.

Gun’s actions were beyond brave, she risked her and her family's future to expose government manipulation and save lives and is deserving of far more than a film in her honour. What this film can and, hopefully, will achieve though is setting Gun’s actions as the standard for a future generation. We should question, we should demand answers, we should seek information and clarity.

A vitally important movie that should be compulsive viewing.

4 stars ****