Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks campaign for freedom of the press in "Die Verlegerin". A film that couldn't be more current.
On July 20 (8:15 p.m., Das Erste), the events surrounding the publication of the Pentagon papers in 1971 come on German free TV with "Die Verlegerin". In the age of "fake news", director icon Steven Spielberg (73, "Indiana Jones") is dedicated to freedom of the press – sending Hollywood favorites Meryl Streep (71, "The Devil Wears Prada") and Tom Hanks (64, "Forrest Gump"). A film that makes a clear statement.
That's what "The Publisher" is about
In 1971, Katharine "Kay" Graham (Meryl Streep) headed the US publisher, which publishes the renowned "Washington Post". As the first female newspaper publisher in America, Kay has a difficult time, and the newspaper is also about to go public. It becomes explosive when editor-in-chief Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks) wants to report on a huge cover-up scandal in the White House, in which four US presidents alone are involved. For press freedom, Kay and Ben not only risk their careers, but also the future of "Post". And their opponent is the US government of all places …
A plea for freedom of the press
"The publisher" may be set in 1971, but the film seems to be more up-to-date than ever – especially in the era of US President Donald Trump (74), who explicitly declared the press to be an "enemy of the people."
In "The Publisher" a political scandal by the "Washington Post" is uncovered, which the US government tried to cover up at the time. The Pentagon papers, once secret documents of the U.S. Department of Defense, revealed how the public was misinformed about the Vietnam War.
With his film drama, Steven Spielberg has made a plea for freedom of the press and for newspaper journalism. The message is clear: the task of the media is to make politics responsible on behalf of the people. Investigative journalism, which for example awarded the Oscar-winning film "Spotlight" (2015), is shown less. In "The Publisher", decision-making behind the scenes is in the foreground. The story already exists, but will it be printed or not? What are the consequences and is it worth the risk to reveal the truth?
This decision is in the film with Oscar winner Meryl Streep. As Kay Graham (1917-2001), Streep first has to be heard surrounded by men. She is smiled at and not taken seriously as the first female publisher in the United States. An unusual figure for Streep, who rarely plays roles in which she doubts about herself and sometimes seems downright helpless. Tom Hanks is a little pale as Ben Bradlee (1921-2014), the editor-in-chief of the Washington Post at the time. But in the end both find old strength.
Conclusion
"Die Verlegerin" is the first film that the trio Hanks, Spielberg and Streep are working on together. The strip conveys a clear and, above all, important message with regard to freedom of the press and journalism, as well as the responsibility that goes with it. In times of "fake news" this is more relevant than ever.