This film is a mix of documentary and fiction. Jude Campbell's job as a journalist allows her to interview a large number of actual journalists, politicians and union leaders to examine the extent of influence that US intelligence forces have been exerting over the Bob Hawke faction of the union movement and the Labor Party. Most of the interviewees are from the left and very critical of US influence on Australian policies during the conservative Cold War Reagan years. Although the film presents many interesting and perhaps controversial viewpoints (if you have any interest in reliving the local political issues of 1983-84), it tends to neglect the dramatic elements of the story somewhat. Although Jude does manage to assimilate the many ideas she is presented with, and lodge an interesting radio story, it feels as if the dramatic elements were just a framework to present the ideas raised. On the other hand the film is well-made and, as someone who lived through those years in Australia, I found it interesting, though I can imagine many would not.
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