The film also does little to stir the blood about the outrage of the unnecessary military action and its human cost. It relies too much on your memory of the actual events of the time. In the written coda at film’s end it doesn’t even mention the fact that after all was said and done, no weapons of mass destruction were even found.

Most of the performances are fine and the emotion is delivered in that oh so quaint and subdued British manner. The strength and resolve of the real Katharine Gun is hinted at by Keira Knightley‘s performance but never fully realised. Ralph Fiennes is however convincing as her lawyer Ben Emmerson.

Set against the larger context of the daily intrusions into our privacy and civil rights by the big government apparatus, it’s an important story. A little homework on the real event before seeing the film would most certainly add context and increase its impact.

Rob Hudson
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The memo proposed blackmailing smaller, undecided member states into voting for war. At great personal and professional risk, journalist Martin Bright published the leaked document in The Observer newspaper in London, and the story made headlines around the world. Members of the Security Council were outraged and any chance of a UN resolution in favour of war collapsed.

But within days, Bush declared he no longer needed UN backing and invaded anyway. As Iraq descended into chaos, Katharine was arrested and charged with breaching the Official Secrets Act. Martin faced potential charges too. Their legal battles exposed the highest levels of government in both London and Washington with having manipulated intelligence in order to sell an illegal war.

Official Secrets will open in Australian cinemas November 21!
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