At this point there have been multiple films about whistleblower Reality Winner, including last year’s Reality with Sydney Sweeney. But what the world really needs is a dark comedy take, something to cleanse the palate from the strict transcriptions and stiff documentaries. And that’s where Winner comes in. CODA breakout Emilia Jones stars as Reality Winner in the film that reunites her with Cat Person director Susanna Fogel.
Premiering earlier this year at Sundance (Cortland’s review here), Winner tells the story we already know but in a comedic, theatrical light. Winner, an Air Force veteran and translator, leaked intelligence proving Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election. She was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison, the longest sentence ever for such an offense.
Now imagine that, only funny.
Connie Britton, Danny Ramirez, Kathryn Newton, and Zach Galifianakis co-star with Jones. Fogel directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Kerry Howley, based on the latter’s New York Magazine article about Winner.
SYNOPSIS: Based on a true story, Reality Winner is a brilliant young misfit from a Texas border town who loves her pink gun almost as much as helping others. After teaching herself Arabic in high school so she can be of service in the Middle East, Reality is recruited by the Air Force but quickly becomes disillusioned when she finds her morals challenged. After transitioning to a money gig as an NSA contractor, Reality stumbles upon government secrets regarding Russia’s election hacking during the 2016 Presidential campaign. Does she expose the truth or keep quiet? Ultimately, she decides to leak the truth leading to her trial and historic sentencing for espionage.
Winner hits select theaters and VOD on September 13th.
