Key Highlights
- A “timely” and “ambitious” thriller starring Matt Smith, Keira Knightley, and Ralph Fiennes is streaming for free on BBC iPlayer.
- The film, based on the real-life story of whistleblower Katharine Gun, premiered in 2019.
- Keira Knightley’s powerful performance earned critical acclaim with an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
- The film tells the story of Katharine Gun leaking a memo to the press during the lead-up to the Iraq War.
A Timely Thriller on BBC iPlayer: ‘Official Secrets’
“Official Secrets,” a compelling thriller starring Matt Smith, Keira Knightley, and Ralph Fiennes, is now streaming for free on BBC iPlayer. Directed by Gavin Hood, the film premiered in 2019 and tells the story of Katharine Gun, a British intelligence specialist who leaked a memo to the press during the run-up to the Iraq War.
Background and Plot
The film is based on the real-life whistleblower case involving Katharine Gun. In 2003, Katharine Gun received a memo from the NSA advising her that the US was enlisting the UK to help collect compromising information on UN Security Council members in order to blackmail them into voting in favor of an invasion of Iraq. Infuriated by both her government’s actions and those of the US, Gun decided to leak this memo to the press.
Cast and Performance
The film features a star-studded cast including Matt Smith, known for his role as the Eleventh Doctor in “Doctor Who”; Keira Knightley, who is praised for her intense performance; Ralph Fiennes, bringing gravitas with his presence on screen; Matthew Goode, Adam Bakri, and Indira Varma rounding out the stellar ensemble. Critics have lauded Knightley’s performance, describing it as “powerful” and “intensely focused.”
Critical Reception
“Official Secrets” has garnered a 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising Keira Knightley’s performance. The Observer wrote: “Whatever its flaws, Official Secrets reminds us just how seriously the state took its pursuit of Gun, who had nothing to gain and everything to lose by raising the alarm, revealing the teeth behind the smarmy smiles.” Sight & Sound added that Knightley’s performance is what sustains the film.
“It’s Knightley’s intensely focused performance that sustains the film. She inhabits Gun with an almost ascetic bearing, especially when her drawn countenance is placed against the sepulchral gloom of the GCHQ environs.” Refinery29 described the film as “compelling,” while Screen International said it “pushes all the right buttons.” Empire Magazine added that the film remains “engaging and entertaining, anchored by Keira Knightley on great form.”
Preparation for the Role
Keira Knightley spoke to The Guardian about her preparation for the role. She said, “I had lunch with her, and she came to the set once. I really liked her. Gavin Hood, the director, had said he didn’t want a characterisation of her.
I mean, I don’t look anything like her. She has an interesting accent because she was brought up in Taiwan. I really wanted to do that, but Gavin wouldn’t let me.” Knightley emphasized how important it was to capture Katharine’s point of view accurately: “This is a story told through her eyes.“
Currently streaming on BBC iPlayer, “Official Secrets” offers viewers an engaging and timely look at one of the most significant whistleblower cases in recent history.
If you missed the film when it aired on BBC Two last Monday night, you can now watch it for free.
Official Secrets is streaming now on BBC iPlayer. Don’t miss this compelling and timely drama.
