Credit: Netflix

Funny how older films usually find their way back into the spotlight, isn’t it? The Interpreter has been doing exactly that by popping up on Netflix charts again as though it’s had a proper second lease of life. And no, it’s not because the platform brought it back. Just people rediscovering it and giving it another watch.

In case you have not come across it before, don’t worry, we’ll fill you in. This two-decade-old film starts with Nicole Kidman playing Silvia Broome, a United Nations interpreter. She is a sharp and composed woman who carries more than she lets on. One evening, she overhears a conversation in a language not many would recognise, and it turns out to be talk of an assassination plot aimed at an African president due to speak at the UN. Not exactly the sort of thing you can brush off and head home after, is it?

That little incident puts her straight onto the radar of the authorities, including Sean Penn’s character, Tobin Keller. He is a Secret Service agent, and instead of treating Silvia as a straightforward witness, he starts to suspect she might be tangled up in it all. And to be fair, once he begins looking into her background, you can see why.

Silvia’s past links back to a fictional African country called Matobo, which has seen its fair share of political unrest and violence. Her connection to the place isn’t distant either; it’s very personal. As Keller digs further, the lines between victim, witness, and suspect get blurred.

The interplay between Kidman and Penn is worth noting. It’s not about easy chemistry, nope. It is way more restrained than that. The constant sense of mistrust running through their scenes together, with both characters holding their cards close to their chest. Actually, it suits the story well.

Another detail that gives the film a bit of an edge is its setting. Large portions were filmed inside the actual United Nations headquarters in New York, which hadn’t been done before for a feature film. That’s the kind of authenticity we are looking at here.

Behind the camera, you’ve got Sydney Pollack as the director, who has done a fabulous job making all of it look real. And before Kidman and Penn, many actors were approached to do these roles, but in the end, they were finalised, and you’ll notice how hard they have worked to bring these characters to life.

It’s not surprising that The Interpreter is trending now at number nine on Netflix globally. By the time you reach the end, you’ll realise that The Interpreter earning another moment in the spotlight is well deserved. And mostly because it does not rely on flashy tricks to keep your attention. If you’re in the mood for a thriller that asks you to stay switched on, it’s well worth giving it a go.