Official Secrets: Compelling True Story

This film is a true story about Katharine Gun, a whistle-blower who worked for the GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) – a British intelligence agency – who tried to prevent England from going to war with Iraq in 2003.  The film received mixed reviews, but Robin and I both thought it was terrific.  We both think it's a MUST-SEE and may even deserve an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Katharine Gun (Keira Knightley) is doing her usual boring job as a translator when she reads a memo informing her that the U.S. is spying on diplomats of multiple countries on the U.N. Security council in order to try to wedge on them to vote to approve the Iraq War.  She, as well as the vast majority of British citizens, opposes Tony Blair's desire to join the U.S. in the war to depose Saddam Hussein.  She thinks Britain's entry into the war is both illegal and immoral.  At great risk to herself, she copies the memo and gives it to a close friend with connections to journalists, in the hope that one newspaper will pick it up, which could favorably result in England not entering the war.  By doing so, she has knowingly violated England's "Official Secrets Act," putting her at serious risk for a lengthy imprisonment.  She is also married to a Turkish Muslim immigrant, Yasar (Adam Bakri), and this action puts him at risk for deportation. I didn't know the story, so I won't spoil the plot by revealing any more;  but there is considerable suspense in how it plays out.  The cast is first rate, as is the screenplay. Bottom-Line: I'd see "Official Secrets" and then "spread-the-word" about it!