The real story of Official Secrets is really captivating: translator Katharine Gun of the secret services of the United Kingdom reveals an espionage operation that sought to pressure the members of the UN to start the war against Iraq in 2003.
Director Gavin Hood was instantly seduced to take this story to the big screen. To achieve this, he remembers his meetings with the real protagonist, played by Keira Knightley: “I met Katharine, for five days, every day, for 4 or 5 hours, I interviewed her and told her to start from the beginning. The fact is that she only leaked a memo, so when I spoke to her the first time I could see she was uneasy,” he recalls.
And he adds, "We couldn't talk about the other things she did at the GCHQ because if she revealed other things, she could be in trouble with the Secret Services."
Official Secrets. Decisions that can change your life
For the filmmaker, the most revealing thing about the film is that it allows the viewer to lay out a dilemma: "The theme behind the film is: "What would you do in your work if you discovered something in that office that was illegal, immoral?" It is something quite common in many industries, including ours. When do you report it? With the risk of losing your job, and even, with the risk of losing your freedom. I hope the film generates empathy,” he concluded.
