Reality

Reality, a 2022 American biographical drama film directed by Amber Fares, delves into the life of Reality Leigh Winner, a former Air Force linguist and contractor who made headlines in 2017 for leaking a classified document to the media. The film opens in Augusta, Georgia, on June 3, 2017, with Reality Winner (played by Riley Keough) going about her day, running a series of errands in preparation for her evening plans. As she drives through the suburban streets of her hometown, Reality appears to be living a mundane life, struggling to find her place in a world that no longer seems to have a clear purpose for her. The film then cuts to Reality's home, where she returns to find two men, FBI agents, knocking on her door. The men, identified as FBI Special Agents Steve Fray and Justin Hollis, (played by Patrick Gibson and Evan Jonigkeit respectively) pose as government contractors, attempting to gain Reality's trust. Over a series of increasingly probing questions, the agents aim to discern Reality's true intentions and potential involvement in the leak. Reality, however, proves to be no ordinary housewife. The film flashes back to her earlier life as a linguist in the Air Force, where she served for six years, primarily stationed in Georgia and later, Okinawa, Japan. There, Reality developed a unique skillset, specializing in Farsi and other languages of interest, and was part of a secretive, yet high-stakes operation in the world of national security. The film portrays Reality's growing disillusionment with the military and her subsequent struggles to find employment in the civilian sector. The 2016 U.S. presidential election further fuels Reality's sense of discontent, particularly with the election of Donald Trump. As the country becomes increasingly polarized, Reality finds herself drawn to a sense of purpose that seems more aligned with her own moral compass. Meanwhile, Reality Winner's decision to leak a classified document to The Intercept, a media outlet that specializes in investigative journalism, appears to be a calculated move. The document, which detailed Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, highlights the government's knowledge of the alleged interference. Reality, believing herself to be fulfilling a civic duty, feels compelled to share this document with the world. As Reality's story unfolds, the film reveals a more nuanced and multidimensional portrait of its protagonist, challenging simplistic narratives surrounding her actions. The filmmakers avoid sensationalizing Reality's decision to leak the document, opting instead to portray her as a human being operating within a complex web of motivations, emotions, and circumstances. Throughout the film, the camera captures intimate moments of Reality's everyday life, from her interactions with her family and loved ones to her solo drives and quiet moments of contemplation. This emphasis on the human experience adds a layer of depth to Reality's story, making it increasingly relatable and, paradoxically, more challenging to categorize. In the end, Reality is captured by the FBI agents and charged under the Espionage Act, a law traditionally used to prosecute spies, not whistleblowers. The film depicts the subsequent months of Reality's imprisonment, during which her lawyers, along with her loved ones, fight to defend her right to free speech and her motivations for the alleged crime. The film concludes with Reality being led away from the courthouse in handcuffs, a haunting shot that underscores the consequences of her actions. Yet, even as Reality's life takes a dramatic turn, the film leaves the viewer with a lingering sense of ambiguity. Was Reality Winner acting out of patriotism or personal conviction? The answer remains elusive, even as the film fades to black.