The Unknown Known

The Unknown Known is a 2013 American documentary film that examines the life, career, and ideologies of Donald Rumsfeld, the two-time Secretary of Defense under U.S Presidents Gerald Ford and George W. Bush. This captivating movie was written, directed, and co-produced by the esteemed filmmaker Errol Morris.

The title of the film derives from a phrase Rumsfeld frequently used in his defense policy analyses and briefings. “Unknown known” specifically refers to things we, as individuals or a society, know but choose to forget or overlook. The film’s theme itself is deeply entrenched in this paradoxical concept, offering a thorough analysis of Rumsfeld’s public service career but contrasting it with the man’s own perceptions of his actions and their impacts.

The film opens with Rumsfeld’s fascinating habit of writing memos, nicknamed 'snowflakes.' Reflecting his analytical mind and penchant for bureaucracy, these memos serve as the film’s groundwork in drawing a psychological portrait of Rumsfeld. This undeniably unique, archetypal approach draws the audience in, bringing them closer to the enigmatic and influential figure that is Rumsfeld.

The film does not follow a traditional biographic linearity. Instead, it spirals in and out of different periods of Rumsfeld's political career, combining new interviews with archival footage, creating a rich tapestry of insight. Through this method, Morris challenges the audience's memory of historical events, while simultaneously paralleling this with Rumsfeld's own perspective of his life and actions, exploring the relationship between image and reality.

The Unknown Known skillfully uses its subject, portraying Rumsfeld as both charming and elusive, making the documentary both riveting and challenging. His never wavering confidence and sometimes controversial statements push audiences to question how those in power articulate and express their truths. Rumsfeld’s responses are often frustratingly judicious, indicative of a political figure well-versed in the careful maneuvering around potentially incriminating conversations. However, these instances, rather than being a hindrance to the film’s progression, lend more depth, persuading the audience to look deeper into the man’s character and motivations.

Morris’s ingenious use of cinematography, including up-close, high-definition shots and creative angles, establishes a mood that ranges between the intimate and the clinical. The haunting endearing score compiled by Danny Elfman helps set the tone and reinforces Rumsfeld’s presence as a central figure in some of the most important events in recent American political history. From the Vietnam War to the Iraq Invasions, Rumsfeld played central roles in crucial decisions that shaped American foreign policy.

The documentary captures the magnetism of Rumsfeld’s wordplay, revealing the skillful and sometimes oddly poetic ways in which he addressed some of the most pressing issues of our time. However, it also manages to weave a pattern of Rumsfeld's complex identity, emphasizing his precise, almost mechanical demeanor, and presenting him as an enigma of American politics.

The Unknown Known does not serve to fact-check Rumsfeld or debunk his accounts of events. Instead, it offers a meditation on power, control, and the ways that human recollections can often be a blend of truths, half-truths, and outright misunderstandings. It delves into the psyche of one among the most significant architects of modern American history, shedding light on how his mind operates, whilst leaving the final verdict on his legacy to the audience.

The documentary is visually cinematic and dramatically compelling, providing an absorbing experience even for those who might initially resist such a close examination of a polarizing figure like Rumsfeld. The Unknown Known is undeniably an essential addition for those intrigued by the nexus of power and personality, and political aficionados looking for an intimate portrait of an influential figure in American history. For the casual viewer, it provides a riveting study of a man who helped shape world events, cast in a perspective few other documentaries dare to explore.

This documentary thoroughly explores the enigmatic persona of a man whose decisions shaped the course of history. The Unknown Known is a provoking and intensely absorbing experience, demonstrating just how captivating a conversation between a documentarian and his subject can be. Simultaneously fascinating and confounding, it exists as a testament to how memory, power, and history are inextricably linking in shaping world perception. This Errol Morris masterpiece is a must-watch for anyone interested in politics or human psychology.