The Interpreter (2005)
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A UN interpreter discovers a plot to assassinate a tyrannical dictator and becomes entangled in a web of lies and violence.
The story
In the fictional Southern African country of Matobo, a rebel leader drives two men to an abandoned stadium where they are executed by accomplices of the regime's secret police. Meanwhile, Silvia, a UN interpreter with a diverse background, works in New York. The UN is considering indicting the country's corrupt leader, Edmond Zuwanie, for ethnic cleansing. After a security scare, Silvia overhears an assassination plot in the local lingua franca. Recognizing the plot's target as Zuwanie, she reports it to security, drawing the attention of US Secret Service agents who begin to investigate the situation.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the fictional Southern African country of Matobo, rebel leader Ajene Xola and Simon Broome are executed by secret police accomplices at an abandoned stadium. Simon's sister, Silvia, works as a UN interpreter in New York. The UN is considering indicting the tyrannical leader Edmond Zuwanie for ethnic cleansing. After overhearing an assassination plot against Zuwanie, Silvia reports it to security. US Secret Service agents Tobin Keller and Dot Woods are assigned to investigate and protect Zuwanie. Keller, who shares a history of grief with Silvia, grows close to her despite suspicions. Philippe, a witness to the stadium execution, contacts Silvia but lies about Simon's fate. Silvia attempts to gather info from an exiled minister but is nearly killed in a bombing. After several deaths and a false flag assassination attempt by Zuwanie's head of security, Nils Lud, Keller realizes the plot was a ruse by Zuwanie to gain credibility. Silvia, hiding in a safe room, confronts Zuwanie with intent to kill him. Keller intervenes just in time to prevent the murder. Zuwanie is indicted, and Silvia reconciles with Keller before returning to Matobo.
- First release year
- 2005
- Runtime (minutes)
- 128
- Production countries
- France; Germany; United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Sydney Pollack
- Writers
- Charles Randolph · screenplay; Scott Frank · screenplay; Steven Zaillian · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Nicole Kidman; Sean Penn; Catherine Keener; Jesper Christensen
- Genres
- political thriller
- Themes
- Diplomacy; Corruption; Grief; Translation; Political Violence
- Premise and plot tags
- Political Thriller; International Relations; Espionage; Fictional Country
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics but was generally favorable on Metacritic, and it was a commercial success, grossing $162.9 million against an $80 million budget.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 62 · scale: 100 · review count: 41; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Best Supporting Actress · Los Angeles Film Critics Association · 2005 · Win
- Production trivia
- It was the first film shot inside the United Nations Headquarters.; The country Matobo and the language Ku were created specifically for the film.; The film's tagline in the constructed language Ku is 'Angota ho ne njumata'.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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