Sydney Pollack (Out of Africa, Tootsie) directed THE INTERPRETER in 2004.
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Silvia Broome, an interpreter working for the U.N., overhears perchance a conversation between two persons in the main conference room of the U.N. building in NYC. According to what she could understand, President Zuwanie of Matobo will be killed during his next speech in front of the UN assembly. Agent Tobin Keller is charged to check Silvia's assertions. At first skeptical, Keller will change his mind when someone enters Silvia's apartment and frightens her. During the next three day, Keller will try to find out who intends to assassinate Zuwanie and how the killer plans to do it.
The review of this Movie prepared by Daniel Staebler
The Interpreter
Directed by Sydney Pollack, 2005
Staring Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn
The (fictitious) African nation of Matobo is in turmoil as rival factions attempt to overthrow the despotic government led by Dr. Zuwanie (Earl Cameron). Reports of widespread torture and genocide by Dr. Zuwanie's government have come to the attention of the U.N. which is debating whether to order that Dr. Zuwanie be tried before the International Tribunal in the Hague. As the U.N. struggles with what to do about the Matobo problem one of the interpreters, Sylvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) overhears part of a whispered conversation about a plot to assassinate Dr. Zuwanie when he appears before the General Assembly to defend his government.
Broome is a citizen of both Matobo and the U.S. since she was born in the U.S. when her parents were temporarily residing here. Sylvia's parents were among the many people of European descent living in Africa at the end of the colonial era who elected to remain in their homeland as citizens of the new African nations.
When Broome reports the conversation she overheard to her superiors at the U.N. they contact the U.S. Secret Service's foreign dignitary protection division for help. Agent Tobin Keller (Sean Penn) is assigned to interview Broome. While initially doubting her story, events soon force Keller to believe her. But Broome proves to be a very private and complex person. Currently a professed idealist and pacifist, she is also a former member of a revolutionary group seeking to overthrow Zuwanie. Further, her parents and younger sister were killed when the car they were driving hit a land mine set by Zuwanie's troops and her estranged brother is a member of one of the rebel groups opposing Zuwanie.
Kidman and Penn provide thought provoking performances of individuals caught up in both their own personal problems and conflicting loyalties in a divided world.
The review of this Movie prepared by Chuck Nugent
