RED KING, WHITE KNIGHT

US, 1989, 106 minutes, Colour.
Tom Skerritt, Helen Mirren, Max Von Sydow.
Directed by Geoff Murphy.

Red King, White Knight is an entertaining espionage story. It highlights the Gorbachev era, the opening up of the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc as well as reconstruction. It takes its cue from Gorbachev's visits to the West, his change of communist philosophy - and the reaction against it of an old guard.

The film focuses on Soviet- United States relationships, echoes of the Cold War, indications of the new era. It is interesting to note that it was screened on Home Box- Office Cable in the United States, the very month that the Berlin Wall came down.

The film has a particularly strong cast and has many excellent action sequences as well as Spy Who Came In From The Cold themes of espionage disillusionment. The film was directed by New Zealander, Geoff Murphy, director of Goodbye Pork Pie, Utu, The Quiet Earth.

1. Interesting and entertaining espionage story? The Cold War? The ending of the Cold War? The Gorbachev era?

2. Telemovie style and audience? Use of Hungarian locations, Washington? Authentic? The world of the CIA? The Eastern Bloc, lifestyle there, the Gorbachev visit? The musical score, music and choir?

3. The title, the chess implications? Games, espionage? The Soviet Union and the United States?

4. The 1980s, the Gorbachev era? Glasnost? The Soviet Union, policies, the dismantling of communism? The Eastern European Bloc? American response to this change?

5. The prologue, the seeking out of Clancy? Tulayev and his ruthlessness, plan for the assassination? The accident with the children? The papers, the associates learning of the plot? The killing of the guards? The survivor, his fears, his giving information to the American embassy?

6. The United States and the CIA, the businessman executive and his recruiting Bill Stoner? The money motive, Stoner not being told the full story? CIA control? The information, processes, meetings? The head of the agency, phone calls to Europe? Decisions to be made? The assistant and his philosophy, his fearing that the president would not be told, his going to the press, his being caught? Official reactions? Portrait of US intelligence?

7. Stoner and his past, his wife's death, alcoholism? His work in Europe, the relationship with Anna? His arrival as a tourist, contacting the agent, getting the ticket to him, witnessing the killings at the airport? Going to Anna, the information about the case, his phone calls to the United States, cut off? His plan? to Anna, the memories of their relationship? Her dress? Together? A future?

8. Tulayev and his shrewdness, examining the visas, going to Sraz? Checking people out, changing the detail of the plot, leaving Clancy to his devices? Going to Anna, the pursuit of Stoner? In the crowd, the shooting, his death? The death of his agents?

9. Sraz and Tulayev's hold over him, the past, his changing ideologies and his speeches explaining this to Stoner? Going to Anna, the past, Stoner's wife? The search, his helping to get Stoner into the enclosure? The laying of the wreath ceremony, his shooting Tulayev?

10. Stoner, his leaving Anna, wanting to take her with him? His search for Clancy, stopping the bullet, stopping the assassination? Anna with him in death?

11. Anna and her past, spy, relationship with Stoner? With Sraz and Tulayev? In prison? Her work in the library, naming students? The dress and her wearing it after ten years? Her listening to the explanations, the changes? The decision not to go? Her grief at his death?

12. Clancy, the IRA background, the vicious killer, seeing him in action, his plan at the wreath-laying, his death?

13. Gorbachev, change, the old guard, the prospects for a new Europe? Taking the opportunities?

14. The popularity of espionage and conspiracy films? This film as topical? Blending action, conspiracy, disillusionment with spying?