Northwest Film Forum

Reception with director Rob Moss before Friday 7:15 show;
Director Q&A Hosted by the ACLU after Friday 7:15 show
 

In today’s wired world most of us enjoy the luxury of free flowing information 24 hours a day. So why does the United States government spend more time and money than ever before making sure we don’t have access to certain information? The seduction and power of secrecy is at the core of this provocative documentary from Rob Moss and Peter Galison. Are secrets necessary for our national security? Is an informed American public the best way to fight terrorism? Where does the line exist between public safety and civil liberties? If secrets are necessary, who gets to know? The film focuses on journalists, lawyers and government officials who have spent their careers debating these important questions. From World War II and the creation of the atom bomb through September 11 and recent abuses at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo, we see the role information management has played in some of this country’s biggest triumphs and tragedies. Moss and Galison combine credible talking head interviews and real–world footage with stylized animation, and expressive music to create a layered, thought provoking narrative.