A film about the true events of a tobacco industry conflict with a high-ranking employee of one such company. A case that was a major blow to the tobacco industry, which until then had publicly distorted the facts and manipulated the public through gigantic profits, by spreading media lies and bribing the courts.

The main characters of the film are Lowell Bergman, a prominent journalist working for CBS television, and Jeffrey Wigand, a high-ranking tobacco company employee who, through his work, was involved in the concealment of information about the health dangers of smoking.

Wigand came into conflict with his employer, who fired him. Reporter Bergman obtains evidence that representatives of tobacco companies perjured themselves in court. Wigand is accused by the companies of breaching a confidentiality agreement. The psychological pressure on Wigand gradually escalates.

Wigand perseveres in his stance even as his life gradually crumbles. He loses his property, is threatened with being killed and his wife asks for a divorce.

Fearful of the tobacco concerns, the television does not air a prepared interview with Wigand. Reporter Bergman decides to keep fighting for Wigand’s honor and for the public’s right to know the truth.

The case ultimately had disastrous consequences for the tobacco companies, who had to pay huge billions of dollars for their fraud.

Parents Guide: 1x brief kissing between spouses. 3x taking God’s name in vain, 1x the expression “fucked up”. A couple of times drinking alcohol. Divorce of spouses during a tense period.

Al Pacino, Russell Crowe, Christopher Plummer, Diane Venora, Philip Baker Hall, Lindsay Crouse, Debi Mazar, Stephen Tobolowsky, Colm Feore, Bruce McGill, Gina Gershon, Michael Gambon, Rip TornCast: Luca Zingaretti, Corrado Fortuna, Francesco Foti, Alessia Goria

Crew: Michael Mann

USA, 1999

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