LEGACY
UK, 2013, 90 minutes, Colour.
Charlie Cox, Andrew Scott, Romola Garai, Olivia Grant, Tessa Peake -Jones, Geraldine James, Christian Mc Kay, Simon Russell Beale, Richard Mc Cabe.
Directed by Pete Travis.
Legacy is based on a novel by Alan Judd. The film has been directed by Peter Travis who has directed a range of films including the retrospective on the events in 1998 in Omagh, the thriller Vantage Point, the Judge Dredd film, as well as the television version of The Go- Between.
The setting is 1960s with Charles, Charlie Cox, starting work at the foreign office, given a contact with a KGB officer with whom he studied at the University, Andrew Scott. There are further complications with a prostitute connection, with the various officials at the office, including an interesting performance by stage actor Simon Russell Beale, with Geraldine James as a knowledgeable expert. There is also intimations of a marital tangle with Romola Garai.
The film is set in the dark London, investigations into the KGB and counter-espionage, and the plot by Russian spies to plant boxes all over the country with plans for industrial sabotage.
1. A Cold War Story? The atmosphere of the 1960s? The UK and espionage? Russian spies, the KGB?
2. The London settings, the city, the club, apartments, homes, dark streets and underpasses, the river, foreign office? The musical score?
3. The title, Charles and his father, his legacy, the ambiguities, the final vindication? The name of the Soviet plan? The threat to British security?
4. Charles, his background education, friendship with Victor, Foreign Office, the officials and his tasks? The encounter with the prostitute, the discussions, her refusal, the money, the information about Victor? Charles returning to her, the information about the golf course? Her murder? His phoning it in? The chief and his sending workers to clean up the situation?
5. Victor, past friendship with Charles, studies together, KGB? Charles tracking him down? The discussion by the river, the information about Charles’s father, the compensation money? Further meetings with Victor? Giving the information to the foreign office officials?
6. Charles, going to see his mother, the death of his father, her grief, cleaning out the office, finding the photo, asking his mother about his father’s trips, the suggestion that he was a spy, his mother’s reaction?
7. The officials, the discussions, Hookey, in charge, his manner, the meal and discussions with Charles? Hugo, his relationship with his wife, his affairs? The meal and the blackout? Martha, her knowledge and expertise, identifying the photo and the individual?
8. Charles, following Victor, at the golf course, digging, finding the box, the information? Hookey and his further explanations, stating that Charles’s father was a double agent, his reputation vindicated? And the officials using Charles to get the information about Legacy? Charles, with Victor, examining the second box, the pursuer on the bicycle – Charles chasing, shooting him? The explosives in the box, stopping the detonation?
9. Charles and his personal life, the visits to Anna, her relationship with her husband, his infidelities? Her children?
10. An interesting film about the Cold War and counter espionage by the UK?
