RESTLESS

Us, 2012, 180 minutes, Colour.
Hayley Atwell, Rufus Sewell, Charlotte Rampling, Michael Gambon, Michele Dockery.
Directed by Edward Hall.

Restless is a made for television and film, adapted by William Boyd from his novel.

The setting initially is Paris in 1939, the rise of fascists, the Russian migrants who fought the fascists.

The film covers the years of World War II and the issue of American entrance into the war, the British trying to persuade, the Russians not wanting the Americans in the war. The film is vivid in its presentation of Washington sequences, sexual blackmail to promote causes, false messages and double crossing. The film also shows espionage work in Belgium and Holland.

In the 1970s, the young spy of the thirties, a Russian migrant, is still pursued by the traitor from the war period. She shows a manuscript of her exploits to her disbelieving daughter and persuades the daughter to confront her boss from the war who is now in the House of Lords. This builds up to a climax and the confrontation between the woman and her former boss.

The films directed by Edward Hall. It has a superior cast of British talent including Charlotte Rampling as the older spy, with Haley Atwell as her younger self. Michelle Dockery plays her daughter. Rufus Sewell is the spy chief and Michael Gambon plays him in later life.

1. A William Boyd novel? His adaptation for the screen? Television format?

2. A British story, from 1930s to the 1970s? Pre-war England? The experience of the war? Espionage? Post-war, secrets, preservation of secrets?

3. The 1970s opening, the establishing of the characters, the atmosphere? The manuscript? The flashbacks to the 1930s and forties? The interconnection? The developments?

4. British locations, the countryside, the beauty, town, the university city? Parliament? The comparison with the United States? Washington, DC? The southern states, the desert, the towns? Canada and the border? The musical score?

5. France, 1939, the London offices, training of spies, work in Belgium and Holland? The US?

6. Charlotte Rampling as Sally? In the present, memories of her marriage, life in the country, her relationship with Ruth,her grandson? Ordinary, the British countryside? Her being upset, paranoia, thinking she was followed, telling Ruth, the explanation, her buying the rifle? the planning with Ruth for her visit to parliament?

7. Ruth, her background, in Europe, the divorce, her son, the story of her life in Germany, her political study, the topic, her disbelief about her mother? Reading the manuscript? The questions, her mother explaining, going to the university, the lecturer with the information? The visit to parliament, waiting, going to see Lukas, the questions, his asking her?

8. Eva in Paris, her brother, the Russian migrants, the rise of fascism, her brother and his anti-fascist stances, his brutal death, the funeral? Lukas and his presence, looking at Eva?

9. The brother, the notes, his death, at the funeral, Lukas recruiting Eva, the persuasion with the money for her father and his illness?

10. Eva, her arrival in England, the training, her powers of observation, being followed? Not having a gun? The detail of training for spies in England?

11. Her work in the office, working with Sylvia, the news releases, Lukas and his appearing and disappearing? Her going to Belgium, her work? Going to Hlland, the rescue operation, the card, the Germans arriving, the café, in the toilet, the questions and the wrong answers? The attack, the chase, her almost being killed? Lukas and the rescue? The authorities and the interview? Promotion?

12. Lukas, his character, enigmatic, appearing and disappearing, control? With the authorities? Eva and her affair with him?

13. Going to the United States, the death of the Russian who was in the interrogation panel? Washington? Her return, the war, her role of the United States?

14. The U.S. and the war? Eva’s mission, her distaste for the mission but agreeing to it? Lukas and his control? The political adviser, the seduction, the blackmail, the photo in the bedroom?

15. Eva and her continuing, the false map, Lukas and his planning what she would do, going to New Mexico, watching the car, the hotels, the contact and his taking the money, her realizing that she was being set up? The Mexican, driving out to the desert, the gun and killing
him?

16. Contacting Maurice, the news of his death? Sylvia and her help, in the car, her being killed? The trek to Canada?

17. Meeting Sean, the attraction, the relationship, his taking her to London? To Ireland?

18. Eva back in London, undercover, going to see Alfie, his signaling out the window, her killing him? Her being pursued, Lukas, the blitz and the bombed buildings?

19. Lukas as master spy, with the Russians, his being discredited, Pearl Harbor bringing the Americans into the war, Russian not wanting America in the war?

20. Ruth, her concern, her mother following her to Lukas’ house?

21. Ruth, accosting Lukas, Sally coming in, with the gun, the confrontation, Lukas and his explanations and his Russian control? The background of Burgess and McLean?, Kim Philby, Anthony Blunt and the British spies for Russia?

22. Lukas, killing himself, the funeral, the tributes?

23. Sally, realizing her mistake, the danger for Ruth? The end?

24. A retrospective on Britain, the thirties, the seventies, and the Russian agents and their double life?