Movie spotlight
Western journalists visit Moscow to interview Adrian Harris, a former controller in British intelligence who was also a double agent for the USSR. Harris believes in both Communism and Englishness, believing himself to have betrayed his class, but not his country. The press find these beliefs incompatible, and want to find out why he became a ‘traitor’. Harris is plagued by anxieties over both his actions and his upper-class childhood, and drinks to a state of collapse
Set during World War II, this drama follows a British agent undercover in occupied France who is tasked with a mission that becomes increasingly complex. He finds himself entangled in a dangerous game of deception, questioning loyalties and facing moral dilemmas as the lines between friend and foe blur.
The film received a mixed to negative reception from critics upon its release. While some praised its attempts at a suspenseful spy narrative, many found the plot convoluted and the characters underdeveloped. Audience reception was similarly lukewarm, with the film failing to make a significant commercial impact.
The film suffers from a confusing and often implausible plot.
Performances are adequate but do little to elevate the material.
Lacks the tension and sophistication expected of a wartime spy thriller.
Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce due to the film's limited release and impact. Those available suggest a general lack of engagement with the story and characters.
The film was shot in various locations across Europe, including Spain and the UK, to simulate wartime France.
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Acclaimed playwright Dennis Potter's own thinly veiled political opinions are never far from the centre of this potently portrayed depiction of a former spy giving an interview to some journalists from the relative safety of his new Moscow ...