PAGE EIGHT

UK, 2011, 99 minutes, Colour.
Bill Nighy, Rachel Weisz, Judy Davis, Michael Gambon, Ralph Fiennes, Alice Krige, Felicity Jones, Ewen Bremner, Saskia Reeves, Holly Aird, Tom Hughes.
Directed by David Hare.

Page Eight is a drama from playwright David Hare who also directed the film. Best known for his theatre work, he has written and directed a number of films (Saigon: Year of the Cat, Wetherby).

The film was released for television in 2011 but echoes some of the controversies of the Tony Blair era, the role of intelligence, the special relationship with the United States, the knowledge that the prime minister had and may or may not have communicated to his cabinet.

The film is very interesting in its presentation of the workings of the espionage agencies in the United States, the power struggles, the restructuring, the alleged modernisation, the traditions of the men in charge. It also focuses on a rather more fascist approach to government – and governments knowing better than the people what is good for them.

The drama is effective because it focuses on an older agent, Johnny Worricker, portrayed expertly by Bill Nighy. It shows his personal dilemmas, his struggles to be a man of integrity – despite his own personal life, his unfaithfulness to his wife, his relationships, his alienation from his daughter.

One of the catalysts for his crisis is contact with his neighbour, played by Rachel Weisz, whose brother has been killed by Israeli authorities and the matter covered up. In the restructuring of the office, Michael Gambon, excellent, is the retiring chief. Judy Davis does her rather neurotic thing as the woman in control who is orchestrating the changes. Ralph Fiennes has a cameo appearance as the prime minister. There is a very strong British supporting cast.

The film was well written, always interesting, a reminder of what a strong actor Bill Nighy can be.

1. An interesting political drama, thriller, the role of espionage in the United Kingdom? Topical? The changes in the 21st century?

2. The work of David Hare, politics, the theatre background, his screen work?

3. The London settings, Oxford, the Continent? Ordinary flats and streets, homes? The rallies? The government offices? Oxford and the university? Sense of realism? The musical score?

4. The title, documents, the issue of sources, careful intelligence, careless intelligence, the threats?

5. Johnny Worricker as an everyman, his integrity, loyalty, intelligence, underestimating himself? A role for Bill Nighy, his age, style? His life, separation from his wife, his affairs, relationship with his daughter, at work, the friendship with Benedict, the clashes with Jill, information from Anna and his relationship with her?

6. The department, its structure, the old traditions, male dominance? Benedict at the end of his career, setting the cat among the pigeons? Calling meetings, his shrewdness? The discussions with Johnny, the long friendship, his marrying Johnny’s wife? Bringing up his daughter? The restructuring and the ousting of the old brigade? Scenes of ordinary work, Jill, her office, attending meetings? Her contact with Downing Street, direct? Her kind of patriotism, exercise of power and control?

7. Johnny and his encounter with Nancy, the neighbour, her coming into his apartment, wanting him to get rid of the guest? Ralph and his being in her apartment? The attraction between the two, yet Johnny’s suspicions? Talk, ease, art? Her situation, the death of her brother, the importance of her father, the Syrian connection? The bond between the two?

8. Nancy as a person, working on books and manuscripts, the meetings, political background, Israel and the death of her brother, the cover-up, her father – and her concealing Johnny’s identity from him? Johnny and the issue of trust? His calling on her to drive him, eluding those following, his obtaining the dossier for her, her seeing it on the television, her gratitude? Her love for Johnny – and the sacrifice?

9. Benedict, his style, discussions with Johnny, yet wary? His wife, the daughter, her pregnancy? The meeting, his orchestrating the discussion? His collapse and death? His funeral?

10. His wife, her relationship with Johnny, antagonism, the phone calls, the daughter and the pregnancy, Benedict’s death? The visit from Johnny, from Nancy? Her giving Johnny the information about the flight so that he could identify the source? Her loyalty? The meal, Nancy, her being upset?

11. Julianne, her age, her relationship with her father, antagonism, relationship with Benedict, with her mother? The exhibition, Johnny coming, their discussion, the clash, his pessimism about her art, the later comment from the minister seeing her painting? The issue of her pregnancy, the father, the separation? The reconciliation with Johnny, the meal, the funeral?

12. The secretary, calling the meeting, seeing her being interviewed on television, her assertive style, a hard woman, relying on Anna for advice? The discussions with Jill, Benedict, Johnny? The confidentiality and sending assistants from the room? The whole issue of the document, page eight, the source, the prime minister’s knowledge of the processes of rendition by the Americans, his not telling his cabinet? The minister having to alter her stance, her discussions with the prime minister – and her promotion to deputy prime minister, the TV interview and her platitudes?

13. Ralph, his company, surveillance, the site of protests, with Nancy, Johnny and the break into his office, discovering the photo with Jill, his equipment?

14. Jill, hard woman, career woman? The antagonism with Johnny, with Benedict? The relationship with the secretary and the contact? Her assertion at the meeting? Benedict’s death, her control, wanting to oust Johnny, her being unmasked, Johnny and his knowledge through the internet and information of who the source was, the American congressman? The deal, his one-upmanship with Jill, the help for Nancy and the truth about her brother?

15. The prime minister, on television, the special relationship with the United States, going to Oxford, the dinner, his speech, wanting to talk with Johnny, the political way he talked, devious, the threats, wanting the document back?

16. Rollo and Johnny, Rollo and his contacts, recruited for espionage, his work as a journalist, articles? His loyalty to Benedict? Going to Israel, getting the dossier? On the outer after the death of Benedict?

17. The world of art, paintings, Johnny’s collection, going to Europe to sell his painting, his contact and the past relationship? His gift to Nancy?

18. Packing, Benedict’s funeral, his going to the airport? His destination?

19. Nancy, willing to go with Johnny? His refusal?

20. The Blair era, Iraq, the relationship with Bush, British espionage, realpolitik? Actual espionage?

21. Issues of personal integrity, patriotism, loyalty – how possible?