The Imitation Game 10th Anniversary Review: Solzy at the Movies

Ten years after its release, the Oscar-nominated film The Imitation Game still stands as a powerful story from 2014, though it does have its shortcomings. The movie shines a spotlight on Alan Turing, a British war hero whose story was largely unknown to many before the film’s release. Turing played a critical role in the war effort, helping to defeat the Nazis, but his contributions had to remain top secret, and much of the evidence was destroyed. Despite its Oscar nominations, the film has faced criticism for its inaccuracies, especially from Turing’s family and the author of the biography it was based on.

It wasn’t until the 1990s that the code-breaking work at Bletchley Park, where Turing was stationed, was declassified, shedding light on the true extent of the contributions made by Turing and his colleagues. The role of women at Bletchley Park, in particular, was crucial to the Allied victory in the Atlantic. Turing, who was gay, also faced discrimination under British laws of the time, and it wasn’t until 2013, nearly six decades after his death, that he was posthumously pardoned by Queen Elizabeth. Turing, who passed away at just 41 years old, was a trailblazer in the field of modern computing and artificial intelligence.

The film delves into a dark period in Turing’s life, following a burglary at his home that leads to an investigation into his personal life. Despite the film’s artistic liberties, it succeeds in shining a light on Turing’s incredible legacy and the challenges he faced. Join us in revisiting this impactful film a decade later and appreciating the story of a true hero.