The Imitation Game revisited one of the turning points in Britain's World War II military campaign. The film emphasizes one man's immeasurable contribution as well as the injustice he received in the aftermath.
Max adds The Imitation Game to its streaming library this January. This critically acclaimed drama earned seven Oscar nominations and won Best Adapted Screenplay; Benedict Cumberbatch also got his second Oscar nod for the film. Cumberbatch played mathematician Alan Turing, considered the father of modern computer science and one of the 20th century's most important figures. His passion for cryptography inspired an invention that turned the tide of World War II in favor of British intelligence. The film offered insight into strategic intelligence; Turing's invention decoded enemy correspondence and impacted generations of civilians in turn.
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Outside of its climactic moment, The Imitation Game also depicts Turing's tragic story after the war. Homosexuality was considered a criminal offense at the time, and in 1952, he was charged with "gross indecency" for having a sexual relationship with a man. He lost his government security clearance after his conviction; he chose to undergo chemical castration over imprisonment. He committed suicide in 1954, one year after the government made hormonal therapy compulsory for similar situations. Turing received a posthumous Royal Pardon from Queen Elizabeth II in 2013. It's estimated that Turing's breakthrough saved more than 14 million people and cut the duration of the war by at least two years.
'I Hope It Brings Alan Turing To A Much Wider Audience'
Speaking to Attitude in 2017, Cumberbatch asserted it's important to tell Turing's story. "We know some of the headlines; or we, in England, know some of the headlines because it's part of our history," he said. "But I think most people would agree there's a massive disparity between his achievements and how much his story is known. I hope it entertains, amuses, thrills, terrifies, and upsets people, but ultimately I really hope it brings Alan Turing to a much wider audience. That's what's so important, because he's a war hero, a gay icon, and the father of the computer age."
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The Imitation Game helped launch a campaign to rectify the injustice done to over 49,000 other gay men and women who were persecuted along with Turing. The petition called for more pardons for victims of anti-gay laws. "We should learn to celebrate our differences and seek out our similarities rather than create divisive fear," Cumberbatch asserted. "[Turing is] a man who committed suicide because he was persecuted for his sexuality by the very democracy and government that he saved. It's a sickening irony and the unbearable tragedy of this story... [It's important] to understand people and break down what the differences are between us, through dialogue, through any form of codified communication. It's about a way of understanding, and it doesn't matter if it's a secret code or common English."
The Imitation Game hits Max on Jan. 1.
Source: Max
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The Imitation Game
PG-13
Drama
Biography
Thriller
During World War II, the English mathematical genius Alan Turing tries to crack the German Enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians while attempting to come to terms with his troubled private life.
Director Morten Tyldum
Release Date November 28, 2014
Studio
Cast Mark Strong , Matthew Goode , Keira Knightley , Benedict Cumberbatch
Writers Graham Moore
Runtime 114minutes
Budget $14 million
Studio(s) The Weinstein Company
Distributor(s) The Weinstein Company
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