TIFF ’23 Review: ‘Death of a Whistleblower’ is a tricky puzzle to assemble
‘Death of a Whistleblower’ requires viewers’ undivided attention to pick up the miniscule breadcrumbs and uncover a dangerous conspiracy.
Some people are faced with difficult decisions when they’re just trying to do their jobs. Coming across evidence of wrongdoing at your workplace is a heavy burden to carry as it comes with the choice of whether or not you should do anything about it. Historically, those who have spoken out against cover-ups by government, military or large corporations have faced stiff penalties for their actions, even if they’re publicly heralded for their bravery. In some cases, these honest citizens risk or lose their lives for doing what’s right. In Death of a Whistleblower, such a casualty spurs a deeper dive into corruption.
Struggling to publish real news at her current publication, investigative journalist Luyanda Masinda (Noxolo Dlamini) can’t help but entertain an offer from an old friend, Stanley Galloway (Rob van Vuuren), to work on a top-secret, high-profile story. But when he’s killed in a targeted attack, she cannot let his death be for naught. Luyanda makes contact with Stanley’s inside man, Albert (Irshaad Ally), and begins to recreate the trail Stanley was following. What she uncovers is bigger than she imagined, spanning decades and involving top ranking officials. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous the path becomes.
This is a well-paced thriller that captivates audiences with a mystery and high stakes. However, at a little over two hours, it loses steam in the middle when it enters into a formulaic loop of finding evidence and being threatened. Nonetheless, as the story unfolds, it becomes apparent there are two crimes that have become linked over time. One took place more than 20 years ago and was swept under the rug. It, however, laid the groundwork for the felonies being committed presently, which involve chemical weapons and a covert arms dealer masquerading as a philanthropist. It’s not difficult to see why someone would be willing to kill to keep these secrets, though Luyanda’s stays of execution are not exactly aligned with their mercilessness.
While the conclusion is foreshadowed, giving audiences the opportunity to predict the film’s outcome, it is still a slightly unexpected turn of events. With some tightening, the narrative wouldn’t risk losing its viewers midway through the picture and the thrill element would be more evenly distributed. That said, it’s necessary to pay attention to the details — and there are many — or risk losing the progression of major plot points as the inquiry relies largely on connecting the minute dots. But the payoff is a shockingly complex subterfuge with frightening consequences if not exposed.
Death of a Whistleblower had its world premiere in the Centrepiece programme at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Read other reviews from the festival.
Director: Ian Gabriel
Starring: Noxolo Dlamini, Irshaad Ally and Kathleen Stephens
