Secrets of State
A grim French counterterrorism thriller mirrors a secret agent’s indoctrination with a troubled recruit’s descent into terrorism.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- tense
- grim
- paranoid
- political thriller night
- international cinema viewing
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Alex’s counter-terrorism unit and Al Barad’s terrorist network use comparable methods and treat people as weapons.
Diane and Pierre are recruited, trained, and psychologically directed toward missions beyond their maturity.
The intelligence service and terrorist organization are both depicted through secrecy, manipulation, and ruthless methods.
Diane’s path into French intelligence is set against Pierre’s movement toward terrorism.
Films like Secrets of State, and why
Syriana
political espionage thriller centered on institutional manipulation and morally compromised operatives
The Bureau
French intelligence drama combining covert operations, terrorism, and ideological ambiguity
Munich
tense espionage narrative focused on recruitment, divided loyalties, and psychological pressure
Movie Details
- Director
- Philippe Haïm
- Release Date
- 2008-12-10
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (121)
Cast
- Gérard Lanvin
- Vahina Giocante
- Nicolas Duvauchelle
- Simon Abkarian
- Rachida Brakni
- Mehdi Nebbou
- Aurélien Wiik
- Nicolas Marié
- Katia Lewkowicz
- Kamel Belghazi
Common questions
- What is Secrets of State about?
- A grim French counterterrorism thriller mirrors a secret agent’s indoctrination with a troubled recruit’s descent into terrorism.
- What is Secrets of State like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Secrets of State as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Secrets of State violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Secrets of State as brutal.
- Which films are like Secrets of State?
- Films with a similar feel include Syriana, The Bureau, and Munich.
- How long is Secrets of State?
- Secrets of State runs 100 minutes.
