Film review: The Fifth Estate (15)

Wikileaks is given the big screen treatment
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Oct 2013, 15:42 BST
The Fifth Estate: Dan Stevens as Ian Katz and Peter Capaldi as Alan RushbridgerThe Fifth Estate: Dan Stevens as Ian Katz and Peter Capaldi as Alan Rushbridger
The Fifth Estate: Dan Stevens as Ian Katz and Peter Capaldi as Alan Rushbridger

The film opens in London, July 2010, in the offices of The Guardian. Editor Alan Rusbridger (Peter Capaldi), Deputy Ian Katz (Dan Stevens) and reporter Nick Davies (David Thewlis) are poised to publish their front page story about the Bradley Manning leaks in tandem with The New York Times and Der Spiegel.

The film rewinds two years to sketch the relationship between Julian and Daniel, who meet at a conference and embark on their quest to expose corruption within the upper echelons of power. Julian demands absolutely loyalty, which puts intolerable strain on Daniel’s relationship with his girlfriend, Birgitta (Carice van Houten). Meanwhile, Deputy Undersecretary Of State, Sarah Shaw (Laura Linney), becomes increasingly concerned by the power wielded by WikiLeaks.

Star rating: 6

Related topics:London