If you have been looking for a superb opportunity to dig deeper into the secrets of cryptography and espionage, then “The Imitation Game” with the talented Benedict Cumberbatch and the equally alluring cast is the perfect option for you. The film sheds light to the efforts of the pioneer of cryptanalysis, Alan Turing, toward decoding the mighty Enigma machine – the machine used by the Germans in the World War II to encrypt their communications. Alan Turing was employed by the British Government to work on finding a way to break the codes and help the Allies to prevail.
The film is based on true events and has been the aftermath of the postmortem public apology and pardon of the British Government and the Queen in 2009 and 2013, respectively. Although there are controversial issues as to the validity of several details highlighted in the film, the truth is that the whole plot flows smoothly and gets to explain some fundamental aspects of cryptography and espionage. Alan Turing was a complex personality, full of innovative ideas and of course sometimes he had to confront the opposition of others, who were not like-minded. Nevertheless, he continued on and managed to build a machine that pretty much resembles computers today.
Without the proper help from a machine, some enigmas cannot be solved; there are millions of millions of possibilities that need to be taken into consideration and calculated. However, in the question of whether a man or a machine is better, there is no direct answer; there is no such matter in the first place! According to Alan Turing, being either one does not necessarily place you at a superior position; it places you at a different position.
Regardless of any potential flaws and misinterpretations, the film is enlightening and offers abundant food for thought. I would strongly recommend watching “The Imitation Game” and not only for the sublime acting of our favorite “Sherlock!”
