TRAITOR WITHIN
US, 1998, 98 minutes, Colour.
Timothy Hutton, Joan Plowright, Elizabeth Pena.
Directed by John Mackenzie.
Traitor Within is the story of Aldridge Ames, the CIA worker who betrayed secrets to the Russians for eight years.
Timothy Hutton is excellent, working on underplaying the character of Ames so as to make his life, his betrayal more credible. Ames worked with the CIA for over twenty years, following in the footsteps of his father who had a great reputation. He was in charge of the Soviet section. According to this screenplay, he was passed over for promotion, criticised for his drinking and unreliability, found himself more and more in debt with the demands of his Colombian wife and his care for their son. When passed over, he made the decision to make money by giving secrets to the Russians.
The film opens with Ames during the Reagan era, finding it difficult to make ends meet, feeling the pressure from his wife. When not promoted, and critical of the inefficiency of the CIA (which, according to the end of the film, was also criticised officially after the exposure of Ames), we see him go to the Russians. It seems particularly easy for him to make contact, keep the contacts while burying the leads under covers in Langley.
The film also focuses on a group of older women who, under cover of examining files, examine all the files about operatives in the section, finally narrowing it down, after eight years, to Ames.
Joan Plowright has a very interesting role as the head of this department. Elizabeth Pena is the demanding wife.
At the end of the film, it is revealed that Ames is serving a life sentence, Rosario Ames served only five years and helped collaborate with the CIA. A character in the film says that the day that Ames was unmasked was one of the worst days of the CIA (and when he gave information to the Russians and the KGB found out how it was infiltrated, a KGB character says it was the worst day for the KGB).
The film was made at the end of the 90s when the collapse of the Soviet empire was clear and a different type of espionage was emerging.
1. An interesting story? True story? Espionage in the CIA and in the KGB? Infiltration, betrayal?
2. The title, its reference to Ames, his not seeing himself in this perspective?
3. The CIA, the Soviet section, recruiting counter-agents? The temptation to be traitors, the money offered (as seen in the lie detector sequence with Ames)? The counter-espionage techniques, mutual help? During the Cold War, during the Glasnost era, the fall of the Soviet empire? Jeanne saying that she did not want traitors in the CIA - while the CIA canvassed traitors within the KGB? The irony of honour amongst spies?
4. Aldridge Ames, the pressure of his father's reputation, his twenty years in the CIA, his good work, getting Soviet counter-agents? Mexico, the clash with the head, his drinking? His not keeping regular hours? His marriage, his son? Love for his wife, the financial pressures, the bills, her studies, her mother in Colombia? His being passed over for promotion, the authorities not taking up his suggestions, his disillusionment, his thinking then inefficient? The decision to be a traitor?
5. Making contact with the Russians, comparatively easy, the discussions, the ambiguous statements, the meetings without a word spoken, only in writing? The handing over of documents, the drop with the money and the documents? The consequences for the KGB and the revelation of the infiltration? The executing of ten operatives? Ames learning this, his responsibility? The money, his wife spending it, her studies, her mother, the big house, clothes, the women saying that she had consulted them about curtains? The high life for eight years, Rosario and her complicity in her husband's spying? The discussions in the restaurant, her learning to live with it?
6. Jeanne and her team, age and experience, unlikely spies? Their work, the files, the young man helping them? Checking and rechecking? Narrowing down the group, checking financial statements, the walk in the corridor with Ames, her wondering, the information about Rosario and the curtains? Her checking out Ames, her giving the information to her superiors?
7. The superiors, life in the CIA, people hanging on to their jobs, caution, not communicating upstairs, putting presidential pressure on people? Inefficiency in supervision? The drinking, the lax hours? The new head, tightening things? Calling in the investigative group? Keeping it secret? The chatter, Ames hearing it, checking on the computer, finding out about Jeanne, suggesting that the KGB (**OR THE CIA?) target her as the traitor instead of the man who disappeared into Russia? His making mistakes, the finances, going to Geneva instead of Zurich?
8. His being head of the Colombian drug investigation, his plans to go to the overseas meeting, the possibility of having a villa in Russia? The decision to arrest him, his associate ringing him and asking him to come into the office? His being arrested by the FBI in the street?
9. True story, the nature of international politics, spying, people living by double standards? Honour, integrity, betrayal?
