Hidden Agenda depicts an investigation into the murder of an American civil rights activist in Northern Ireland by the police while driving in the company of a Provisional Irish Republican Army sympathiser.
A conspiracy is gradually revealed involving a successful Central Intelligence Agency plot to influence the 1987 UK General Election and keep Margaret Thatcher in power, and previously to get Margaret Thatcher elected Conservative Party chairman over the ex-PM Edward Heath and beat Labour in 1979 through alliance with MI6 distributing black propaganda about communists influencing strikes in the 1970s and Heath’s infidelities.
Although fictional, the film was inspired by the investigation into the Royal Ulster Constabulary’s alleged “shoot to kill policy”.
Cox’s character represents John Stalker, the leader of that investigation. E4A, an undercover unit of the Royal Ulster Constabulary claimed to be involved in the killings, is mentioned briefly in the film. —wikipedia
Cast: Frances McDormand, Brian Cox, Mai Zetterling, Brad Dourif, Michelle Fairley, Brian McCann
Cannes (In Competition): Jury Prize
Read about this film
Title: Hidden Agenda (1990)
Directed by: Ken Loach
Date of birth: 17 June 1936, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England, UK
Writing credits:
Jim Allen
Music by: Stewart Copeland
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Color: Color
Runtime: 108 min.