VOD Spotlight: Behind the Scenes of Closed Circuit

In Closed Circuit, Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall play two former lovers who find themselves on the same defense team in a high-profile British terrorism case. Soon they discover that their every move is being watched and that their lives are in jeopardy.

For viewers who are interested in some of the nuances of the British courts systems as they relate to the story told in Closed Circuit, the list below may shed some light on an otherwise unfamiliar subject.

Attorney General: The Attorney General (the character portrayed by Jim Broadbent) is one of the Law Officers of the Crown. The Attorney General serves as the chief legal adviser of the Crown, and its government, in England and Wales.

Barrister and/or QC, and Solicitor: In the U.K., barristers are specialists in advocacy and represent individuals or organizations. They are usually hired by solicitors to represent clients in court, as solicitors are attorneys who work on a case but do not participate in courtroom proceedings. In the film, Martin (played by Eric Bana) is a barrister, and is QC (Queen’s Counsel), while Devlin (played by Ciarán Hinds) is the solicitor who works with him on a regular basis. Barristers of at least 10 years’ good standing may apply to be designated QC, who are selected annually by the Ministry of Justice.

Special Advocate: A Special Advocate (one, Claudia, is portrayed onscreen by Rebecca Hall) is a barrister appointed to represent the interests of an individual/defendant in proceedings wherein at least part of the evidence or material is “closed [i.e., classified] material” that will only be presented in a “closed session.” Given that cases calling for a Special Advocate, or SA, often directly relate to national security, SAs have been subjected to rigorous vetting procedures by the Crown’s prosecution services to ensure that they pose no security risk if and when given highly confidential information.

Closed Session: A Special Advocate is vital because otherwise the defendant would have no one representing their interests in the closed session, which is a hearing held in the presence of the judges and security-cleared personnel and lawyers, often including the government’s own prosecution lawyers. During these sessions, classified evidence will be considered that is often national security-sensitive. A closed session may also be necessary because the government is reliant on evidence which it cannot reveal publicly, or to the individual on trial, but which is central to its case; without the closed session, the government would not be able to continue its prosecution.

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Closed Circuit is available starting Jan. 7 on Video On Demand. Check your cable system for availability.

© Focus Features Credit: Jay Maidment