RED JOAN
UK, 2018, 101 minutes, Colour.
Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Stephen Campbell Moore, Tom Hughes, Freddie Gaminara, Tereza Srbova, Ben Miles.
Directed by Trevor Nunn.
The opening credits remind audiences that this film is based on a novel – but it is inspired by actual characters and events. Which means that this is an interpretation of the role of the actual Melita Norwood, Melita Norwood worked at the British Non-Ferrous? Metals Research Association as a secretary and supplied the Soviet Union with nuclear secrets. The materials that Norwood passed on to the USSR hastened the pace at which the Soviets developed nuclear bomb technology. Wikipedia provides a quick, brief background to Melita Norwood.
In this fictionalised version, Judi Dench plays Joan Stanley, seen in her 80s in the year 2000 when she is arrested for espionage. As she spends time in custody, being interrogated, accused by her disbelieving son, there are flashbacks to her study days in Cambridge in 1938, her being employed by the Department of Defence, her scientific skills and insights, being seconded to a department working on nuclear fission, conscious of the work of the Americans with the Manhattan Project, the race towards nuclear weapons by the Soviet Union, travels to Canada and collaboration with Canadian scientists. Joan Stanley is portrayed as a significant scientist, but a woman with connections with socialist and Communist groups in the late 1930s.
Audiences will be conscious of the range of British spies, centred on Cambridge, their work during World War II and subsequently, passing on secrets to the Russians, covert lives and subsequent moves to Moscow including Burgess and Maclean, Kim Philby and the later unmasking of Anthony Blunt.
The younger Joan is played by Sophie Cookson, earnest, caught up without realising that she has been recruited by a range of socialists in Cambridge, including a number of later civil servants, émigré Russians, falling in love with one of them. There is on and off contact during the war and after and the pressure on her to pass on secrets.
She also falls in love with her she-scientist boss, played by Stephen Campbell Moore, with whom she travels to Canada for continued nuclear work. She becomes more and more conscious of the race for the bomb, appalled (as we are with the familiar images of Hiroshima) and is faced with moral dilemmas at the beginning of the Cold War, a motivation that thinks that if Russia has nuclear capabilities, this will counterbalance those of the United States. And, she points out, that this counterbalance has been effective for more than half a century.
Her son is shocked, a devout patriot, questioning his mother about her behaviour and motivation, concerned about how much his father knew of his wife’s behaviour – an interesting, unanticipated twist towards the end.
Many critics have turned up their noses at this story, some calling it absurd, many saying that was a waste of Judi Dench’s talents. On the other hand, this is the kind of story that interests many audiences, many older audiences who like to give some thought to the issues and their continued relevance.
1. The tradition of British spy stories? Stories of the 30s and 40s? The versions of John Le Carre stories?
2. The screenplay as a fiction, credible, based on an actual character? Activities, motivations? Exposure in the year 2000?
3. Judi Dench and the central role? Impact?
4. The year 2000, the house, the London suburbs, the police arriving, interviews?
5. The 1930s, Cambridge, the University, the flats for the students? The socialist groups? Their meetings and enthusiasm? The academic world? The personal stories? The 1940s, Department of Defence, the laboratories and research, personal stories, the workplace? The work in Canada? The return to England, wartime, collaboration with the Soviet Union? The passing on of secrets? The arrest of the head of research? The musical score – and the overtones of the Internationale?
6. The picture of Joan, as Mrs Stanley, in the house, the neighbours watching, the son and his legal work, the arrest, the shock, the interrogation rooms, the attitude of those questioning? The collapse, Hospital? The discussions, the issues of science, the bomb, patriotism? The hostility of her son? His patriotism? His concern about his father, the revelation of who his father was? The final press conference and his standing by his mother’s side?
7. Joan, young and earnest, her study, the episode with Sonia getting into the building, Sonia’s invitation to Joan to go to the meetings, her shyness, the attraction to Leo, falling in
love with him, caught up in his ideology, going to the meetings, the protests? Her personal involvement?
8. Sonya, her personality, exuberant style, getting into the house, invitations to Joan, the relationship with Leo and the later photo of their son? Her cover, recruiting, her work during the war, after the war, loyalty to Russia?
9. Leo, as in émigré, German background, bond with the Soviet Union, his ideologies, work and study, the demonstrations, his speeches, the influence on young British politically minded men and women? During the war, moving out, returning, the affair with Joan? Going to Canada, their meeting there? His return to England, pleading with her? The affair resuming? His death, hanging? Sonia and her cover?
10. Max Davis, his skills as a scientist, in charge of the group working, interview with Joan, hiring her, keeping her in prominence, other scientists and expectations that she was the tea lady? The collaboration with Joan? Falling in love with her, the separation from his wife, not getting a divorce? The going to Canada, with the scientists, the revelation of the link of the Chief scientist with the Soviet Union? The return to England? The continued work, the rivalry with the Manhattan Project, developments in Russia? Max and his being arrested, his love for Joan, suffering, the divorce, her visiting him in prison, her confession?
11. The British politicians, the discussions and plans, collaboration with the Canadians?
12. The world of the scientists and research, the role of men, subsidiary roles of women, Joan as a leader?
13. The Manhattan Project and its development, the bombing of Hiroshima, Joan (and the audience) watching the devastation? Her response? Her motivation? Not receiving money from the Soviet Union? Her ideology, a balance of power with each power having the bomb and capabilities? Leo and his persuasion, her getting the materials, the camera, passing on the documents, losing her camera in the canal?
14. William Mitchell, the contacts, her finding the compromising photo, her blackmailing him, getting the tickets to Australia, Max getting out of jail, the couple going to Australia as Mr and Mrs Stanley? Nick asking about his father? How much he knew?
15. The final press conference, the questions, Joan and her explanation of her motivation?
16. The actual character of Melita Norwood, as fictionalised as Joan Stanley, the different facts, but helping to understand the role of those who passed secrets to the Soviet Union in the 30s and 40s?
