No. 45 (2023) REALITY. June 20th.

 

Film No. 45  (2023)  June 20th.  1:15 PM  PHEONIX Picture House,  Cine 1, Oxford, U.K.

 

"Reality, what if I put it to you, that you printed out classified information?" (Agent Garrick does indeed put a pointed, incriminating, question to Reality Winner).

NOMINEE: Best Feature Award (Tina Satter) Panorama Audience Award.

Reality Winner does not nearly have the profile of the likes of Ed Snowden or Julian Assange when it comes to whistleblowing amongst the thicket of U.S. political lies and deceit, in contemporary times. Winner was a bit-player when it comes to her misdemeanour. But the consequence's she suffered shocked most who looked on. This very unique film from Tina Satter (her first feature film) had me totally engaged for its entire 83 minute running time, which incidentally, was the duration of  the transcript of Winner's actual arrest on June 3, 2017.

It's hard to believe this is Satter's first feature, directing debut. The film is a spin off from the play she created from the transcripts recorded by the FBI of the 80 minutes of  Winner's arrest. It is littered with outtakes of the actual recordings, sound waves and all. See, you are already wondering how a feature film could engage an audience with such a thin premise. It does, let me tell you.  

The stage play, Is This A Room (2021), created such a buzz, that Satter decided it was worth the risk (with studio backing) of adapting it for the screen. Choosing Sydney Sweeney as the lead has justified that gamble. The film, and more specifically Sweeney's performance, has a mesmerising quality. "Sorry, I have a resting bitch face" is a line Reality uses during her interview and it sums up every nuance Sutter captures with every frame Sweeney fills. This vulnerable girl is in trouble. Has she an inkling of how mush trouble? Is she simply shocked? Is she innocent? When will reality (no pun intended) dawn on her? Sweeney has us in the palm of her hand. 

I only had a vague recollection of a young lady being arrested, in the U.S., for leaking a document for public consumption 6 years ago. I knew little of the play or the screen adaptation. I was attracted to the title and the poster. I was overseas (U.K.), and there had been no promotion of the film in Australia. I had a great time with REALITY. And if the reaction of 3 twenty something students who watched the same session as me is anything to go by, the film will stir emotions!  10GUMS.