At first I hated the ending, because it defied the logic and apparent message that the movie seem to purvey. It made logical sense that she didn't need to protect the identity of the child, and so it seemed like Kate's position was stubborn and self-righteous.
However, after much thinking, I now believe that, initially, Kate felt concerned that revealing the source may tarnish the relationship the child had with her mother. She must have felt that at first she didn't need to reveal the source, and that she would play the principle of a journalist not revealing her source. But then the reality of jail set in. At this point, maybe she negotiated with herself that she, and her own family, could last some time, and in the end be a hero to the press for not revealing her source, and to keep the source's relationship with her mother untarnished. Few months past, she is probably feeling some regret, but so much time has past that she stubbornly persists, no doubt emboldening the idea of protecting her source, and her right not to reveal her source.
Then the mother of the source is killed. Now Kate feels responsible for the loss of her source's mother, and so now the idea to keep her source a secret may no longer be one of journalistic principle and to maintain the source's family relationship. Instead, the stronger position may be that she wants to keep the child from blaming herself for her mother's death if that child were to become aware of the consequences of her actions.
With the governments final action against the protagonist, it is apparent that Kate, without hesitation, no longer cares about the principles of journalism with her quick judgement not to risk doing more then a maximum of 2 years in jail. Pleading guilty would not jeopardize: the source's conscience, her journalism career, and the journalism principle. It would also mean that she would see her own child sooner.
Much debate about this ending seems to circle around national security vs rights of the journalist. However, the debate is ignoring if it was a national security issue to begin with. The assumptions made by the prosecutors, and DA, that the leak was by a government official and that the official was leaking or leaked other information -that wasn't about unethical government actions-, is the flaw that should be talked about if you want to look at the political aspects of this movie. Ultimately, given the lack of coverage the movie showed concerning what publishing the article even did to change the policies of the government, means that the political aspect wasn't the focus.
So while this movie may seem to be just like any other political thriller, there was another story being told that only revealed itself in the final scene. Upon realization of this, I am satisfied with this movie. Acting by most of the leading roles were superb, and, upon revealing the hidden meaning of this story, the movie is superb, minus some political blimps.
9/10
However, after much thinking, I now believe that, initially, Kate felt concerned that revealing the source may tarnish the relationship the child had with her mother. She must have felt that at first she didn't need to reveal the source, and that she would play the principle of a journalist not revealing her source. But then the reality of jail set in. At this point, maybe she negotiated with herself that she, and her own family, could last some time, and in the end be a hero to the press for not revealing her source, and to keep the source's relationship with her mother untarnished. Few months past, she is probably feeling some regret, but so much time has past that she stubbornly persists, no doubt emboldening the idea of protecting her source, and her right not to reveal her source.
Then the mother of the source is killed. Now Kate feels responsible for the loss of her source's mother, and so now the idea to keep her source a secret may no longer be one of journalistic principle and to maintain the source's family relationship. Instead, the stronger position may be that she wants to keep the child from blaming herself for her mother's death if that child were to become aware of the consequences of her actions.
With the governments final action against the protagonist, it is apparent that Kate, without hesitation, no longer cares about the principles of journalism with her quick judgement not to risk doing more then a maximum of 2 years in jail. Pleading guilty would not jeopardize: the source's conscience, her journalism career, and the journalism principle. It would also mean that she would see her own child sooner.
Much debate about this ending seems to circle around national security vs rights of the journalist. However, the debate is ignoring if it was a national security issue to begin with. The assumptions made by the prosecutors, and DA, that the leak was by a government official and that the official was leaking or leaked other information -that wasn't about unethical government actions-, is the flaw that should be talked about if you want to look at the political aspects of this movie. Ultimately, given the lack of coverage the movie showed concerning what publishing the article even did to change the policies of the government, means that the political aspect wasn't the focus.
So while this movie may seem to be just like any other political thriller, there was another story being told that only revealed itself in the final scene. Upon realization of this, I am satisfied with this movie. Acting by most of the leading roles were superb, and, upon revealing the hidden meaning of this story, the movie is superb, minus some political blimps.
9/10