Official secrets is a UK drama based on a true story starring Keira Knightley as Iraq war whistleblower Katharine Gun, circa 2003.
If you’re anything like me, the words ‘war’ and ‘whistleblower’ make you think of a suspenseful thriller and whilst I did enjoy this film, it was strangely lacking in that end-of-your-seat suspenseful feeling. I suppose it would lack that if you knew Katharine’s story and how it ended but I confess I wasn’t really across it so there was something else at play though I’m not sure exactly what.
Katharine was a translator working in the British security services (#spy) when she uncovered information so unpalatable to her that she leaked it via an advocate to a journalist. She struggles with guilt about the leak as well as the implications her actions have on her Muslim husband who is dragged into the saga too.
Knightley gives a good performance though this film reminded me that I’m not wild about her. I DO NOT KNOW WHY LEAVE ME ALONE OK?! Matt Smith and Rhys Ifans also bring their A-game as journalists working on her story and covering the war more generally and Ralph Fiennes is very good too as Katharine’s human rights lawyer.
I enjoyed Official Secrets but it somehow wasn’t quite as thrilling as it could and should have been. About 3-3.5 stars worth of good for me. Here’s a 4 star review in The Guardian and a 3 star review in The Independent UK if you want to read more.
Official Secrets opens 21 November and is rated MA 15+. Trailer here.