Underground: The Julian Assange Story
| Underground: The Julian Assange Story | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Based on | Underground |
| Written by | Robert Connolly |
| Screenplay by | Robert Connolly |
| Story by | Suelette Dreyfus |
| Directed by | Robert Connolly |
| Starring |
Rachel Griffiths Callan McAuliffe Anthony LaPaglia Alex Williams Laura Wheelwright Benedict Samuel Jordan Raskopoulos |
| Theme music composer | François Tétaz |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Tony Ayres Rick Maier Helen Bowden |
| Cinematography | Andrew Commis |
| Editor(s) | Andy Canny |
| Running time | 88 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Matchbox Pictures |
| Distributor | Network Ten |
| Release | |
| Original network | Network Ten |
| Original release | 8 September 2012 (2012 Toronto International Film Festival) 7 October 2012 (Australian television) |
Filmed in and around Melbourne, the film was written and directed by Robert Connolly and produced by Matchbox Pictures' Helen Bowden, with Tony Ayres and Rick Maier serving as Executive Producers.
In 1989, known as 'Mendax', Assange and two friends formed a group called the 'International Subversives'. Using early home computers and defining themselves as 'white hat hackers' - those who look but don't steal – they broke into some of the world's most powerful and secretive organisations. They were young, brilliant, and in the eyes of the US Government, a major threat to national security.
At the urging of the FBI, the Australian Federal Police set up a special taskforce to catch them. But at a time when most Australian police had never seen a computer, let alone used one, they had to figure out just where to begin.
Police ingenuity and old-fashioned detective work are pitted against nimble, highly skilled young men in this new crime frontier. What follows is a game of cat and mouse through the electronic underground of Melbourne.
1.34 million viewers watched the Australian television premiere on 7 October 2012. It was also the top trending topic in Australia on Twitter during the broadcast.
The film received mixed reviews from critics. Ahead of the premiere at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival, Daniel Janvier of Toronto Film Scene wrote "This film is deeply frustrating watch. It takes the approach of many biopics – cramming in as much information as possible ... If this were a televised miniseries, with multiple installments to cover everything it wants to perhaps it would be better served."
Australian critics were more positive. David Knox of TV Tonight described it as "a terrific yarn that elevates Assange as a journalistic warrior, and Alex Williams as a new star". Karl Quinn writing in The Age concluded the film was "A considered yet gripping look at the crucible in which Julian Assange was formed and, arguably, deformed. Brilliant."
The telefeature has received two nominations at the 2nd AACTA Awards (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts), including Best Telefeature, Mini Series or Short Run Series and Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama for Laura Wheelwright.
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