The Unknown Known
Errol Morris turns Donald Rumsfeld’s self-defending account of American power into a searching study of political language, responsibility, and evasion.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- cerebral
- sardonic
- unsettling
- political history viewing
- documentary night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film fascinating and intellectually probing, praising its evenhanded interrogation while noting that Rumsfeld's refusal to acknowledge mistakes can be frustrating.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Errol Morris conducts an extended cat-and-mouse interview with Donald Rumsfeld, allowing evasions and inconsistencies to accumulate.
Rumsfeld's language about policy, torture, war planning, and responsibility is repeatedly examined for its evasive formulations.
Rumsfeld discusses his Washington career from the early 1960s through the 2003 Iraq invasion in his own words.
The film scrutinizes Rumsfeld's public office while he remains reluctant to admit mistakes, especially concerning Iraq and torture.
Films like The Unknown Known, and why
The Fog of War
political documentary built around an extended interview with a powerful public figure and an elusive account of responsibility
Wormwood
critical documentary portrait of a controversial political figure using interviews, archival context, and institutional scrutiny
Where the Wind Blew
probing political documentary that examines public power, rhetoric, and contested historical memory
Movie Details
- Director
- Errol Morris
- Release Date
- 2013-08-29
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (96)
Cast
- Donald Rumsfeld
- Kenn Medeiros
- Errol Morris
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Unknown Known about?
- Errol Morris turns Donald Rumsfeld’s self-defending account of American power into a searching study of political language, responsibility, and evasion.
- What is The Unknown Known like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Unknown Known as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Unknown Known violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Unknown Known.
- What did critics think of The Unknown Known?
- Critics broadly found the film fascinating and intellectually probing, praising its evenhanded interrogation while noting that Rumsfeld's refusal to acknowledge mistakes can be frustrating.
- Which films are like The Unknown Known?
- Films with a similar feel include The Fog of War, Wormwood, and Where the Wind Blew.
- How long is The Unknown Known?
- The Unknown Known runs 102 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Unknown Known?
- In United States, The Unknown Known is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
