description The Unknown Known Overview
"The Unknown Known" is a 2013 documentary film directed by Errol Morris that profiles former United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. The film is constructed from 33 hours of interviews conducted using Morris's signature Interrotron setup, where subjects look directly into the camera. It examines Rumsfeld's political career, his role in the George W. Bush administration, and the lead-up to the Iraq War.
It serves as a companion piece to Morris's earlier film "The Fog of War," and is intended for viewers interested in modern American political history and government communications.
help The Unknown Known FAQ
Why is Donald Rumsfeld the focus of The Unknown Known?
Errol Morris's 2013 documentary is built around interviews with former United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Morris uses his Interrotron setup, which lets Rumsfeld look directly toward the camera while answering questions about his career and decisions.
What does the phrase The Unknown Known mean?
The title comes from Rumsfeld's explanation of known knowns, known unknowns, and unknown unknowns during a Pentagon briefing. Morris uses the phrase to examine how political language can frame uncertainty and responsibility.
Does The Unknown Known discuss the Iraq War and weapons of mass destruction?
A major part of the film addresses the George W. Bush administration's case for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the intelligence claims about weapons of mass destruction. Rumsfeld's answers are presented as an extended interrogation of how those claims were expressed and defended.
How does The Unknown Known compare with Errol Morris's The Fog of War?
The Unknown Known centers on Donald Rumsfeld and United States policy in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. The Fog of War, released in 2003, profiles former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara and focuses primarily on the Vietnam War and earlier conflicts.
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