Movie review: THE WHISTLEBLOWER

THE WHISTLEBLOWER

Academy Award® winner Rachel Weisz
stars in the heart-pounding suspense thriller
arriving on Blu-ray and DVD January 24

"Rachel Weisz’s performance holds the viewer every step of the way!"
-Variety

"Incendiary. Bracing. Explosive."
-The Hollywood Reporter

Summary: How far will one woman go to fight global injustice? Clandestine secrets are waiting to be exposed in the gripping dramatic thriller THE WHISTLEBLOWER, arriving on Blu-ray and DVD January 24 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Inspired by true events, THE WHISTLEBLOWER has been met with praise by critics and heralded at the Palm Springs International Film Festival ("Best Narrative Feature"), Seattle Film Festival ("Best Director") and Whistler Film Festival ("Best Film", "Best Narrative Feature").

Academy Award winners Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardner) and Vanessa Redgrave (Julia) head a powerful cast that includes Oscar® Nominee David Strathairn (Good Night and Good Luck) in writer-director Larysa Kondracki’s harrowing dramatic thriller. When Nebraska cop Kathryn Bolkovac (Weisz) accepts a U.N. peacekeeper position in post-war Bosnia, she uncovers a deadly sex trafficking ring. After learning that fellow peacekeepers and military contractors are involved in the ghastly practice and its cover-up, Bolkovac risks her own life to save the lives of others and expose the corruption. With masterful acting and a heart-racing plot, THE WHISTLEBLOWER is an acclaimed film inspired by actual events and includes stellar supporting performances from Benedict Cumberbatch ("Sherlock"), Monica Bellucci (The Matrix Reloaded) and David Hewlett ("Stargate: Atlantis").

Based on true events, THE WHISTLEBLOWER is difficult to watch. The subject matter is rough: prostitution, exploitation, slavery, human trafficking, torture...against European women in Bosnia. Like millions of others around the world, I've heard the horror stories of how women were (are?) treated in Bosnia and Herzegovina. But until you've seen graphic depictions and been given a glimpse into the lives of real women caught in the crossfire, the horror is somehow remote.

This movie brings it all home with scenes that are sometimes hard to watch. Knowing that it is based on real-life events and not just someone's imagination really adds authenticity, which makes it even worse. But there's an unlikely hero here... or rather heroine... in the form of UN Peacekeeper Kathryn Bolkovac (Rachel Weisz in a riveting performance). When she uncovers not just the horrendous injustice but discovers coverups and even involvement by key UN personnel, her own life is suddenly in danger.

THE WHISTLEBLOWER is edge-of-your-seat suspense. You can't look away, you're afraid you'll miss something. And you find yourself rooting for Bolkovac as she fights deep-seated corruption with courage and conviction. Vanessa Redgrave as an advocate for women's rights adds a touch of class to a dark tale.

Hard to watch, yes. But a must-see film for understanding the reality of what has happened, may still be happening, and can happen anywhere when people turn a blind eye to inhumanity for the sake of greed.