The Imitation Game: Press Conference Highlights

Packed into the Ball room of London’s Corinthia hotel, we eagerly awaiting the arrival of Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Graham Moore and Morten Tyldum as they discuss their film, The Imitation Game. Which is the opening gala to the 58th London Film Festival.

The Imitation Game (which we gave a four-star rating in our review earlier today) depicts the incredibly true story of Alan Turing. Set mainly in 1941, the film focuses on ‘The Enigma’. A top-secret Nazi communication device that encodes their top detail orders to the frontlines. Thought impossible to crack, the Germans had an upper-hand in the war because of it and it allowed them to move unexpectedly under the ally’s noses for years.

That is until, Alan Turing (Cumberbatch) is assembled under the command of Winston Churchill himself. Along with his hand-picked team, including Kiera Knightley’s character, Joan Clarke - through many difficulties, manage to break the code without the German’s noticing in a thrilling tale of espionage and drama.

Written by Graham Moore, and based on the book ‘Alan Turing: The Enigma’, the film adaption, directed by Morten Tyldum, brings to light Turing’s true and unrecognized work during the war. Here is our highlights from the press conference.

The Imitation Game: Press Conference Highlights

Benedict Cumberbatch on Alan Turing:

It has been an extraordinary decade for him [Alan Turing], because of his pardon, because of his centenary, because of exhibitions and books, and now this film. It is a part of a monument to have him at the foreground of recognition that he deserves, as a scientist, and as a father to the modern age computer, as a war hero and as a man who lived an uncompromised life.

The Imitation Game

Writer, Graham Moore on Alan Turing:

I have been obsessed with the story of Alan Turing since I was a teenager. Enough to get to know the story of this tremendous person who accomplished all of these things I knew about. As a fan of him I have always wanted to see an Alan Turing movie.

Benedict Cumberbatch on opening the London Film Festival:

It is amazing to open the London Film Festival. I have always wanted to spend more time at the festival, and to be up front and centre with this film, I could be more proud of. To present it at London is terrific

Keira Knightley on her character Joan Clarke:

There is an interview that she gave - Morten told me about it - she was in her mid-seventies. So, yes, I watched that and certainly took that quality of being quiet, nice and very feminine. I thought that she was very interesting and was somebody who was breaking boundaries in her own right. But she didn’t go about it like a bull in a china shop. He [Alan Turing] didn’t see her coming and I got that form the interviews she gave. But I also picked up their great friendship and love that existed between them. I could really see that in the interview that I saw that she was so protective of him.

Benedict Cumberbatch on Alan’s sexuality:

His sexuality is something that is contained, that is expressed in the film, but not shown explicitly. What we showed was his behaviour towards his sexuality, which is sadly true to the film is that he had to at the large part keep it private, keep it suppressive and make it something secret. The cost of sharing that information, but also in Alan’s case being completely explicit with it where it is telling the young man to touch my penis in the police interview, or whether it is talking to Allen Leech’s character, Cairincross confessing his sexualty at the engagement party is to just honour Alan.

The Imitation Game is the opening gala at the 58th BFI London Film Festival. You can read our review here.

Page Last Updated:

October 24, 2014 PM

Words By:

Charlie Green