There is a well-worn path in entertainment of dueling projects on the same topic. Often, they come out within a few months of one-another. Usually, it ends up that one approach has a longer lasting cultural reach. We won’t know for a while which approach to the story of Reality Winner wins out. But with Winner, we get a unique approach.

Reality Winner was in the Air Force where she used her talent with languages to help direct foreign actions. But it took a toll on her. She sought to move on, but with her options blocked by a lack of a college degree, she took a position working with classified documents. When she came across the truth about the Russian interference in the 2016 election, she couldn’t remain silent. Her choice to reveal that truth by releasing a classified article cost her greatly.

Since her arrest and prosecution—and subsequent release—we’ve seen two different versions of her story. The first was the HBO original Reality, which featured Sydney Sweeney in the role. It chose to focus solely on her home interview with FBI interrogators. It was an interesting approach that relied on real dialogue from the recorded interview. But it didn’t dive deep into who she was, what happened, and why.

That’s where Winner picks up. This new film—which debuted at Sundance and comes to streaming Friday—focuses on telling the story of Reality Winner. It begins during her childhood, where the beliefs and activism of her father (Zack Galifianakis) have an impact on how she sees the world. As a child, she experiences 9/11, which further influences how she sees the world. That’s what leads her to the Air Force—and what turns out to be a false promise she can use her gifts to help those in need around the world.

Instead, Reality (Emilia Jones) is set in a classified office decoding radio messages. What she hears and translates is used—quite successfully—to identify targets for drone strikes. She’s told it is important work, but the human cost weighs on her mind and spirit. When she tries to change that, she hits roadblocks. That leads to another classified job where she seizes on a chance to make a difference.

This new film is much more an exploration of Reality, her life, and her motivations. The cast includes Connie Britton, who plays her mother, and Kathryn Newton, who plays her sister, and explores their relationships as well. All that helps ground the story differently.

I enjoyed Jones in the lead role. I thought she handled the complexity of the character well and brought out the deep emotions of her journey. I also liked how director Susanna Fogel brought the story to life, injecting humor where possible. It makes for an engaging and interesting cinematic journey.

There will likely be a wide range of thoughts on what Reality Winner did and her story, but I like the way this film attempts to provide larger context to the journey. It’s worth seeking out for those who want to learn more, or just have an enjoyable ride.

Winner is now streaming.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.