The Whistleblower (2010)

A drama based on the experiences of Kathryn Bolkovac, a Nebraska cop who served as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia and outed the U.N. for covering up a sex trafficking scandal.

Director:

Larysa Kondracki

Writers:

Larysa Kondracki, Eilis Kirwan

Stars:

Rachel Weisz, Monica Bellucci, Vanessa Redgrave

8 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rachel Weisz	...	Kathryn Bolkovac
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Madeleine Rees
Monica Bellucci	...	Laura Leviani
David Strathairn	...	Peter Ward
Nikolaj Lie Kaas	...	Jan Van Der Velde
Roxana Condurache	...	Raya
Paula Schramm	...	Luba
Alexandru Potocean	...	Viko
William Hope	...	Blakely
Rayisa Kondracki	...	Irka
Jeanette Hain	...	Halyna
Benedict Cumberbatch	...	Nick Kaufman
David Hewlett	...	Fred Murray
Coca Bloos	...	Milena
Luke Treadaway	...	Jim Higgins

Storyline

Inspired by true events, Kathy (Rachel Weisz) is an American police officer who takes a job working as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia. Her expectations of helping to rebuild a devastated country are dashed when she uncovers a dangerous reality of corruption, cover-up and intrigue amid a world of private contractors and multinational diplomatic doubletalk.

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Plot Keywords:

corruption | diplomatic immunity | rape | torture | sex crime | 

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Taglines:

Nothing is more dangerous than the truth.

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Genres:

Action | Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for disturbing violent content including a brutal sexual assault, graphic nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Canada Germany

Language:

English Romanian Russian Serbian Ukrainian

Release Date:

27 October 2011 (Germany)

Also Known As:

La verdad oculta

Filming Locations:

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$61,002, 7 August 2011, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,120,914, 23 October 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

Samuel Goldwyn Films, Whistleblower (Gen One), Barry Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie includes three Game of Thrones (2011) cast members. This includes Liam Cunningham (Bill Hynes) who portrays Davos Seaworth, Rosabell Laurenti Sellers (Erin) who portrays Tyene Sand and Pilou Asbæk (Bas) who portrays Euron Greyjoy.

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Goofs

As Kathryn walks down the hallway of the Holiday Inn, a shot shows her view looking down the hall. A man is on her left walking toward her. The next shot shows Kathryn's front as she keeps walking down the hall. The man has passed her and his now on her right.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Raya: [in Ukrainian] I have to get home. Mama's gonna kill me.
Luba: No. You are staying with me tonight. Roman wants us there at nine in the morning. Raya, we've been over this. It's just a few months working in a hotel.
Raya: Yes, but...
Luba: You want to work at a Copyshack like your mother? He said it was both of us or nothing!
Raya: ...No.
[walks away]

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Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: Man on a Ledge (2012)

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Soundtracks

The South
Written by Danny Greaves, Sammy Kohn, Joel Serlin and Ken Tizzard
Performed by The Watchmen
Published by PeerMusic Canada Inc.
Courtesy of The Watchmen

User Reviews

don't trust military contractors

While the atrocities in the former Yugoslavia made a lot of news in the 1990s, less well known were the actions of military contractors in the region. "The Whistleblower" tells the story of Kathryn Bolkovac, a Nebraska cop who joined a private company to serve as a peace-keeper in Bosnia, only to discover that the company was complicit in human trafficking.

The really ugly scenes are when we see what is done to the trafficked girls. It almost seems as though the movie should have focused more on them. But what is equally important to understand is not only the atrocities committed with impunity by private contractors, but the risk that whistleblowers face even today (as shown by the WikiLeaks case).

Either way, this is something that everyone should see to understand the reality behind modern-day mercenary armies.