Reality 2023

On May 9, 2017, Reality Winner watches Fox News report on the firing of James Comey by President Donald Trump at her office. Just 25 days later, on June 3, she comes home from grocery shopping and is suddenly confronted by FBI Agents Taylor and Garrick, who inform her that they possess a warrant to search her home and belongings. As a team of agents arrive and begin their search, Winner engages in casual dialogue with them, all recorded and later serving as the backbone of the film’s narrative.

During the early exchanges, Winner shows concern for the safety of her pets, a dog and a cat, amidst the chaos of the search. She cooperates by moving to an empty bedroom where she can talk privately with Agent Taylor and Agent Garrick. They start inquiring about her background, and she reveals that, along with being a yoga instructor and CrossFit trainer, she works as a Farsi translator for a government contractor. She expresses a desire to be deployed to Afghanistan, eager for her skills in Pashto to be utilized effectively.

As the questioning progresses, the agents disclose they are investigating the recent leak of classified documents to an online publication. Initially, Winner denies any involvement, but after an hour of pressure, she eventually admits to printing and leaking a document from the NSA. Although the film places emphasis on the redaction of leak specifics, it eventually unveils that the leaked documents provided evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections, with the publication being The Intercept—which had solicited evidence regarding this interference.

Winner clarifies that she did not aim to be a whistle-blower or undermine the intelligence community like Edward Snowden; her intention was purely to ensure the American public had access to the same information that the government had concerning the elections. As the interrogation concludes, her primary concern remains for her pets, as she comprehends that she will soon be taken into custody.

Footage reveals her being escorted out, handcuffed, while media reports regarding her actions play in the background. The public reaction to Winner’s deeds is polarized; while some praise her bravery, others accuse her of treason or question the integrity of the leaks. Critics target The Intercept for enabling the trace back to Winner, and some speculate that the strict punishment she faces was a strategic move to dissuade future whistle-blowers.

The film concludes with a textual epilogue stating that Winner was denied bail and charged under the Espionage Act. She served four years in prison and is set to remain under supervised release until November 2024. Furthermore, the epilogue notes that the document she leaked was later referenced in the Senate as undeniable evidence of Russian interference.