The Post (2017)

The Post Poster

A cover-up that spanned four U.S. Presidents pushed the country's first female newspaper publisher and a hard-driving editor to join an unprecedented battle between journalist and government. Inspired by true events.

The Post Film (2017) Summary
"The Post" is a political thriller directed by Steven Spielberg. This Academy Award-nominated film was launched in 2017 and centers on the historical release of the Pentagon Papers in the 1970s. The movie stars Meryl Streep as Katharine Graham, the very first female publisher of The Washington Post, and Tom Hanks as Ben Bradlee, the paper's hard-edged editor.

Real-life Political Scandal
The plot is set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, during Richard Nixon's presidency. It focuses on the real-life political scandal involving the Pentagon Papers, a top-secret study that exposed the federal government's deceit about the nation's participation in the Vietnam War. The New York Times first published excerpts from these documents, however the government quickly obtained an injunction to stop further publication.

Fight for the Truth
In the midst of this, The Washington Post gets to the same files. The hard-bitten editor, Ben Bradlee, wants to publish these documents to uphold journalistic integrity and notify the public of the fact. However, their publication could possibly have plain legal repercussions, leading to an internal struggle within the paper's management, generally involving the owner, Katharine Graham.

Graham's Struggle and Decision
Graham is represented as a woman wrestling with the tough decision between protecting her family's paper, which could possibly go public, and jeopardizing journalistic integrity. The movie vividly catches her battle, a journey from a high society woman living in her dad's and partner's shadow to a media titan and feminist icon. In spite of intense pressure, she authorizes the publication of the Pentagon Papers, running the risk of the future of the paper and her own flexibility.

Impact and Resolution
As the Post releases the files, it triggers a historical legal fight over the liberty of expression. The case climbs its way approximately the Supreme Court, which need to choose if journalism's liberty shields them from retribution from the government. The court guidelines in favor of the newspapers in a landmark case for press liberty.

Ending
The motion picture ends in drama, meaning another fantastic political scandal on the horizon, the Watergate scandal, which would eventually result in President Nixon's downfall.

Crucial Acclaim and Relevance
"The Post" was popular by critics. It was extensively praised for its depiction of the dispute between the media and the federal government, the value of investigative journalism, freedom of press, and the development of Katharine Graham as a leader. Drawing several parallels to modern-day political and social circumstances, the movie serves as a reminder of the media's important role as the fourth estate.

Overall, Spielberg's "The Post" is not just a historical drama however a tribute to the free press and its substantial function in maintaining democratic systems. It highlights the necessity of a free press, highlighting the threats and sacrifices reporters and publishers often make in their quest for fact.

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