As a true account of a major event of world-history, THE POST might be a film about the past, but is perfectly relevant in the present times too (may be even more relevant) when the ‘Freedom of Expression’ is being questioned and challenged all over the world by the people in power.
Reminding you of the classic ALL THE PRESDIENT’S MEN (another important film on the theme of free journalism), THE POST is not only a brave project for its subject and timing, but also a courageous film in terms of making, maintaining the 70s look and feel conveying the scary history. Smartly addressing the government of the country it is made in, the film is equally relevant in our part of the world too, where police complaints are being filed against journalists and the authorities are repeatedly being questioned on the status of ‘Free Press’ and ‘Freedom of Expression in Press and Media’.
It right away begins with a sequence revealing the dark side of the government spokesmen or media representatives and then slowly sucks you in maintaining a fine pace of an intriguing investigative drama. Though many may not find it as any fast moving exciting thriller lacking the expected-explosive feel, but it’s the subject that keeps you glued to the screen in amazement knowing about the shamelessly hidden and the unknown truth of the past fooling the innocent people for decades.
Recreating the eye-opener true events, it takes you back in the early 70s when The New York Times came up with a story about how White House and its officials had given wrong facts hiding the truth about the Vietnam War continuing for more than a decade. The newspaper’s reports were based on leaked official papers given by a reliable source. And it caused an open war between the publication and Nixon administration, resulting in the Paper being issued orders for not publishing anything related with the issue, for the first time in the world history giving rise to a strong press revolt. The ban resulted in the press gagging together and The Post deciding to publish the shocking story getting the same leaked papers. As a result, the press won the court case getting a clear verdict in favour of the ‘Freedom of Expression’.
So in the times when Donald Trump’s government locks horns with the press and media, comes Steven Spielberg’s THE POST expressing that an administration cannot dictate how and what to cover becoming an undeclared boss. As a film, its also a rare visual treat bringing together three most reputed names from the world of cinema as Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, who all simply excel in the respective tasks.
In short, THE POST is particularly a must see film for everyone related with media giving a strong reminder that “The Press fulfills an essential role to serve the governed and not the government”.
And as George Orwell said, Freedom of the Press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticize and oppose.
Rating : Movies To See Before You Die
(A short edited version of the article was first published on UC-News Mobile App in February 2018)
