Eye in the Sky is a war drama film directed by South African filmmaker Gavin Hood. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 11 September 2015 with a wide release the following year. Though parts of the film are set in Nairobi, Africa, the scenes were filmed in South Africa. The film is immersive and suspenseful as it explores the ethical challenges of modern warfare using drones.
Upon the news that the terrorist group, Al-Shabaab, has killed an agent British, Colonel Katherine Powell played by Helen Mirren orders the capture of its leaders. Through a field agent on the ground, she learns that the targets are planning to undertake a terrorist attack. As such, the mission changes from capturing to killing the terrorists by the use of drones. This leads to a back and forth between the Colonel—who is at the military headquarters—and other government officials in a different location. The approval of the drone strike becomes complicated when it involves several bureaucrats with opposing sentiments. Seeking approval from their superiors while clarifying the mission with legal counsel delays the mission. The risk of collateral damage after the attack raises the debate about launching a missile at a friendly nation.
During production, the lead actors including Mirren, Alan Rickman, Aaron Paul, and Barkhad Abdi never met physically. This is due to their separate shooting locations as depicted in the film which adds to the tension and suspense of the drama. The film would be the last live-action appearance of the late actor Alan Rickman who passed away shortly after the film's release. It was dedicated to his memory.
