“Explore”
interpreters Zoe Kazan, Carey Mulligan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, Samatha Morton, Ashley Judd, Angela Yeoh
Year 2022
premiere 28 December 2022
Punctuation ★★★★
In the seventies, when films about investigative journalism surged onto screens, the spotlight often fell on political corruption and the way power could clamp down on truth. Those decades built a vocabulary of conspiracies and hidden agendas that still echo today. Yet the world also faced more immediate dangers: attacks on children and women that demanded urgent attention and action. The film at hand revisits that era and invites a contemporary audience to reconsider the stakes of speaking out against abuse and the machinery that seeks to silence survivors.
What emerges is a narrative that centers on the struggle for accountability in a system designed to protect the powerful. The story follows two tenacious reporters as they pursue a truth that others prefer to overlook. Their work challenges entrenched interests and exposes a culture of silence that has long shielded perpetrators. The film does not merely recount a scandal; it unfolds as a study of how journalistic rigor, persistent interviews, and painstaking corroboration can pry open the door to social change. The weight of their investigation rests not on sensationalism but on a careful, methodical gathering of evidence, testimony, and documentation. This approach foregrounds the essential role of investigative reporting in a democracy and illustrates how public trust can shift when responsibility is finally acknowledged.
Director Maria Schrader crafts a tense, engaging portrait of pursuit and perseverance. Through a screenplay by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, adapted from the source material by Kantor and Twohey, the film rhythmically follows the reporters as they navigate a labyrinth of obstacles. The actors give measured, precise performances that convey both resolve and vulnerability. Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan carry the emotional charge of the film, portraying colleagues who feel the weight of every decision and the consequences that follow. Supporting performances illuminate the environment in which these investigations unfold, sketching a larger picture of a culture where fear can govern behavior and silence can be a shield for those who abuse power.
As the narrative unfolds, the audience is drawn into a world where evidence becomes a lifeline and every interview is a strategic move. The film emphasizes the importance of accountability while acknowledging the personal toll that such work exacts from those who pursue it. The tension rises not from melodrama but from the relentless march toward truth, a process that can feel painstaking and exhausting, yet ultimately illuminating. The story makes clear that bravery can take many forms, including the quiet persistence of researchers who comb through archives, cross-check documents, and persist even when institutional resistance grows louder. The result is a portrait of investigative courage that resonates with a modern moment when conversations about harassment, consent, and systemic reform are at the forefront of public discourse.
While some moments may drift into repetition, the core achievement lies in the film’s unflinching look at how a single investigative project can spark broader awareness and shift social consciousness. It captures the sensation of uncovering a truth that long lay hidden, and in doing so, it reveals how fear can crumble under the force of evidence and moral purpose. The film’s steady tempo, reinforced by careful editing and restrained performances, sustains engagement without resorting to sensationalism. The result is a compelling testament to the enduring power of journalism to reveal injustice and contribute to meaningful change.
Ultimately the movie invites viewers to reflect on the enduring relevance of investigative reporting in the age of rapid information and digital amplification. It reminds audiences that the fight for accountability is not merely about a single scandal but about the ongoing effort to safeguard the vulnerable and to ensure that those who wield power are answerable for their actions. The film, with its careful construction and purposeful storytelling, offers a thoughtful, provocative meditation on the beginnings of a renewed feminist consciousness and the crucial role of the press in challenging authority. Its energy lies in the practical, often arduous reality of investigative work and the quiet determination that fuels progress, even when the path forward is murky and fraught with resistance.