Defence of the Realm (1985)

People love political thrillers for several reasons, as they often tap into the intrigue, suspense, and complexities of political power. They also reflect real-world problems as well as the anxieties, conflicts, and social issues of a particular time. Now that we live in an age where countless people are obsessed with conspiracy theories, no wonder many people enjoy watching secret organizations and covert operations in films.

One of the more underrated political thrillers happens to be “Defence of the Realm”, a British film that begins with a scandal (somewhat mirroring the Profumo affair): a prominent Member of Parliament gets accused of having ties to a Soviet spy. The reporter, played by always reliable Gabriel Byrne, breaks the story but soon finds himself in a deeper conspiracy. The last part of the plot also means that the film also works as a journalist film.

Byrne is known for giving understated performances, and this is one of them, but there’s something very thoughtful, something commanding and charismatic, about his performances that he always manages to carry the movie. The rest of the cast is doing a capable job as well. The direction is atmospheric enough, you get the sense of the paranoia that mirrors the political landscape of Cold War-era Britain.

Yet, for a thriller, it’s probably not “flashy” enough, which is maybe why it got overshadowed by the bigger films of the genre at that time. That’s unfortunate because the script is rich enough, there’s a lot going on here that makes it both thought-provoking and suspenseful. It also has something to say about journalistic ethics and political corruption, and these are all relevant themes even today. The film was acclaimed in the UK and even won a BAFTA in a supporting actor category, but these days, rarely anyone talks about it.