Written by John Lounsbury
A film was released recently in the U.S. (January at Sundance and August in theaters) which doesn’t seem to.be getting much attention. That is something that should change. This docudrama is one of the most important films of the year if not the decade. The film is titled “Official Secrets” and stars Keira Knightly, Matt Smith, Matthew Goode, and Ralph Feinnes. Knightly and Smith pictured below.
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This film tells the story of British GCHQ spy Katharine Gun, played by Knightly, who leaked top-secret information to the press and exposed illegal activities by the U.S. in their campaign to invade Iraq in 2003. Doctor Who’s Matt Smith, who played Prince Philip in The Crown, joins the cast as journalist Martin Bright, reuniting with his The Crown co-star Matthew Goode – who plays the role of fellow journalist Peter Beaumont. Besides Ralph Feinnes, the cast also includes Rhys Ifans, Adam Bakri, Katherine Kelly, Indira Varma, Conleth Hill, Tamsin Greig, Jack Farthing, Shaun Dooley, John Heffernan, Kenneth Cranham, and MyAnna Buring.
Official trailer:
The video presented here is the first part of a Democracy Now program enitled: This U.K. Whistleblower Almost Stopped the Iraq Invasion. From YouTube:
In 2003, Katharine Gun, a young specialist working for Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters, exposed a highly confidential memo that revealed the United States’ collaboration with Britain in collecting sensitive information on United Nations Security Council members in order to pressure them into supporting the Iraq invasion. Gun leaked the memo to the press, setting off a chain of events that jeopardized her freedom and safety, but also opened the door to putting the entire legality of the Iraq invasion on trial. Acclaimed Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg described Gun’s action as “the most important and courageous leak I have ever seen.” Gun’s incredible story is depicted in the new film “Official Secrets,” which premieres in the U.S. August 30. We speak with Katharine Gun; the British journalists who reported on Gun’s revelations in The Observer newspaper, Martin Bright and Ed Vulliamy; and Gavin Hood, director of “Official Secrets.”
Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on nearly 1,400 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream 8-9AM ET: https://democracynow.org
Source: YouTube.
This program was continued. Go here for Part 2.
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