Tuesday, May 25, 2021

A Call to Spy (2019)

 This film did the best they could with a shoestring budget and a largely unknown cast. 

Based on true events, this film details how flawed the British spy system was in World War II in France, where the Nazis and SS were everywhere. Still, despite the numerous flaws, there were also successes which this film highlights. 

Virginia Hall (Sarah Megan Thomas) has a wooden leg but an Ivy-league education and wants desperately to be a diplomat but can't, because of her amputation. So she's recruited by Vera Atkins (Stania Katic) and trained to be a spy because the Nazis won't suspect a woman. However, thanks to her success, they quickly grow to suspect her as she uncovers supply lines but then, she's compromised, thanks to someone she suspected of being shady all along. This later happens with our other main character, who isn't alive by the end of the film.

Noor Khan (Radhka Apte) is a master coder and is sent to France to send coded messages back to England and then her school friend's husband turns her over to the Gestapo. Still, she remains stoic and refuses to give up Virginia's location but is killed when she is sent away to Dachau. 

Now, despite the solid performances, the screenplay needed work. I couldn't figure out how Virginia figured out the Nazi supply chain in the first place. Still, it was a decent film which deserved a far better treatment from Hollywood. Grade: B

Side Notes:

-Linus Roache is probably the biggest name this film has. He's in control of the British spy organization.

-This film manages to succeed without having any sort of love plot line though in real life Virginia Hall does get married shortly after the war.

-Virginia's wooden leg is named Cuthbert. 

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