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Sundance film festival 2013: We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks – first look review Sundance film festival 2013: We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks – first look review
(about 5 hours later)
You'd think you'd learn a lot about Julian Assange from We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks. Allow me to disavow you of that notion. The latest documentary to roll out of the Alex Gibney factory looks at the life and times of the crusading website and explores related themes such as freedom of information and the moral responsibility of activism, but is far less illuminating about its silver-haired standard-bearer.You'd think you'd learn a lot about Julian Assange from We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks. Allow me to disavow you of that notion. The latest documentary to roll out of the Alex Gibney factory looks at the life and times of the crusading website and explores related themes such as freedom of information and the moral responsibility of activism, but is far less illuminating about its silver-haired standard-bearer.
It's probably too soon for a meaningful perspective on the WikiLeaks saga. Nonetheless Gibney ploughs ahead and adopts a conventional architecture – outlining facts that will be familiar to anyone who has kept up with the news. He sprinkles a liberal dose of talking heads over the brisk exposition, punctuated by dynamic digital renderings of cyber-chat and the flow of information.It's probably too soon for a meaningful perspective on the WikiLeaks saga. Nonetheless Gibney ploughs ahead and adopts a conventional architecture – outlining facts that will be familiar to anyone who has kept up with the news. He sprinkles a liberal dose of talking heads over the brisk exposition, punctuated by dynamic digital renderings of cyber-chat and the flow of information.
Gibney touches on Assange's early life as a computer hacker in Melbourne, which we are told was something of a hacker's haven in the late 80s. Back then the Australian operated under the nom de guerre of Mendax, whose signature was all over a cyber attack that threatened briefly to sabotage the Atlantis space shuttle mission in 1989. Assange, in one of several interviews with Gibney for this movie, does not deny his involvement in an episode for which the perpetrators have never been brought to account. Gibney touches on Assange's early life as a computer hacker in Melbourne, which we are told was something of a hacker's haven in the late 80s. Back then the Australian operated under the nom de guerre of Mendax, whose signature was all over a cyber attack that threatened briefly to sabotage the Atlantis space shuttle mission in 1989. Assange, in one of several archive on-camera interviews Gibney uses in his movie, does not deny his involvement in an episode for which the perpetrators have never been brought to account.
The focus jumps forward to WikiLeaks itself, as Gibney chronicles the freedom-of-information collective's hitherto short but tumultuous life. The narrative starts with the group's origins in the mid-2000s and its growth spurt in the aftermath of the 2008 financial collapse when Assange forged strong ties with Icelandic activists.The focus jumps forward to WikiLeaks itself, as Gibney chronicles the freedom-of-information collective's hitherto short but tumultuous life. The narrative starts with the group's origins in the mid-2000s and its growth spurt in the aftermath of the 2008 financial collapse when Assange forged strong ties with Icelandic activists.
Then come the heady days of 2010 and the leaked Iraq and Afghanistan war logs. By now Assange has become an activist rock star, a household name – although it is not long before the Robin Hood persona begins to implode amid personal recrimination and legal threats.Then come the heady days of 2010 and the leaked Iraq and Afghanistan war logs. By now Assange has become an activist rock star, a household name – although it is not long before the Robin Hood persona begins to implode amid personal recrimination and legal threats.
There is frank and insightful commentary from former high-ranking members of the US administration, such as ex-CIA director Michael Hayden. However, the most revealing testimony is personal in nature. Former colleagues Daniel Domscheit-Berg and James Ball, now a staff writer at the Guardian, offer a fascinating inside track. Their initial allegiance to the cause gives way to serious misgivings about Assange's uncompromising view of information dissemination and, most ironically of all, his growing opacity when besieged by allegations of sexual assault and censure from the US government and its allies.There is frank and insightful commentary from former high-ranking members of the US administration, such as ex-CIA director Michael Hayden. However, the most revealing testimony is personal in nature. Former colleagues Daniel Domscheit-Berg and James Ball, now a staff writer at the Guardian, offer a fascinating inside track. Their initial allegiance to the cause gives way to serious misgivings about Assange's uncompromising view of information dissemination and, most ironically of all, his growing opacity when besieged by allegations of sexual assault and censure from the US government and its allies.
Without doubt the movie's most memorable achievement is the poignant telling of Bradley Manning's story. The US army private stands accused of leaking hundreds of thousands of classified documents such as the Collateral Murder video and a series of highly embarrassing diplomatic cables that ended up on WikiLeaks and partner news organisations (including the Guardian).Without doubt the movie's most memorable achievement is the poignant telling of Bradley Manning's story. The US army private stands accused of leaking hundreds of thousands of classified documents such as the Collateral Murder video and a series of highly embarrassing diplomatic cables that ended up on WikiLeaks and partner news organisations (including the Guardian).
Manning was dispatched to work in intelligence at a forward operating base in Iraq. A troubled soul who wrestled with gender-identity issues, the twentysomething serviceman reacted with acute sensitivity to what he read and saw. Gibney uses a simple text scrawl across the screen to show email and instant messenger conversations Manning struck up with the hacker Adrian Lamo that portend the information dump and clearly amount to a cry for help. Lamo was concerned about the impact of the leaks and eventually went to the FBI. As Gibney's camera hovers close to Lamo's face, there is no doubt about the hacker's contrition.Manning was dispatched to work in intelligence at a forward operating base in Iraq. A troubled soul who wrestled with gender-identity issues, the twentysomething serviceman reacted with acute sensitivity to what he read and saw. Gibney uses a simple text scrawl across the screen to show email and instant messenger conversations Manning struck up with the hacker Adrian Lamo that portend the information dump and clearly amount to a cry for help. Lamo was concerned about the impact of the leaks and eventually went to the FBI. As Gibney's camera hovers close to Lamo's face, there is no doubt about the hacker's contrition.
Gibney is an exhaustive researcher and also talks to one of the two Swedish women who accused Assange of sexual assault, a claim the Australian continues to dispute. The unresolved nature of the case is one of many uncertainties dangling over the story. Nobody knows what will happen to WikiLeaks or to Assange, who currently resides as a houseguest at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Manning, meanwhile, awaits trial this summer on charges that include aiding the enemy. Truth is an endangered species in this war, but Gibney's thoughtful movie suggests Manning might be its greatest casualty.Gibney is an exhaustive researcher and also talks to one of the two Swedish women who accused Assange of sexual assault, a claim the Australian continues to dispute. The unresolved nature of the case is one of many uncertainties dangling over the story. Nobody knows what will happen to WikiLeaks or to Assange, who currently resides as a houseguest at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Manning, meanwhile, awaits trial this summer on charges that include aiding the enemy. Truth is an endangered species in this war, but Gibney's thoughtful movie suggests Manning might be its greatest casualty.
• This article was amended on 23 January 2013. The original suggested that the director had interviewed Julian Assange, but in fact the film uses already-recorded interview footage. This has been corrected.