THE LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL
UK/US, 2018, 330 minutes, Colour.
Michael Shannon, Alexander Skarsgaard, Florence Pugh, Charles Dance.
Directed by Chan-wook Park
in 1984, there was an American version of the classic novel by John Le Carre, directed by George Roy Hill and starring Diane Keaton.
In 2018, with the popularity of miniseries, the novel was filmed again, this time by the celebrated Korean director Chan-wook Park, who had achieved a worldwide reputation for a range of films including Sympathy for Mr Vengeance, First, The Handmaiden and the internationally cast, Stoker.
This time the young actress who is persuaded to participate in international spying activities, in connection with Mossad, is British. And, she is played by young star who was emerging at that time, in quite a range of films and performances including Lady Macbeth, Cordelia to Anthony Hopkins’ King Lear, Outdoor King, Fighting with My Family, Midsummer and Little Women. Her character has to go through quite a range of experiences in the miniseries and success depends very much on her.
There is an international supporting cast including Michael Shannon as a Mossad leader living in Germany and travelling to England (Klaus Kinski in the former film). Alexander Skarsgaard is initially charming, meeting the young actress seemingly by accident but then becoming her control. There is a range of character actors in support including Charles Dance and a number of Israeli performers.
The screenplay takes the audience back into the Cold War but also the atmosphere in Israel, the training camps and the harsh discipline, the demanding undercover tasks which take their toll on the participants.
One can commend the miniseries in its doing quite some justice to John Le Carre’s original novel and perspectives on the era and espionage.
1. The popularity of the books, films and television adaptations of the work of John Le Carre? Espionage, secret services, international?
2. The focus on Israel and Palestine, the late 1970s, early 1980s? Audience knowledge of the events, the perspectives, the audience taking sides?
3. The adaptation to a miniseries and extended episodes in comparison with the feature film version? The possibilities in this version?
4. 1948, the state of Israel, 1967, the Six-Day? War, Israel as a nation, the attitude of the Zionists, patriotism, religion? The Palestinians, dispossessed? The development of the PLO, the traditions of war and terror?
5. The picture of the operatives for Israel, Marty Kurtz and his story, Michael Shannon and his presence? An official, his authority, his innate shrewdness, the range of his staff, their personalities, men and women, working with them, moving internationally, making decisions? The interactions? His friendship with Gardi, using him? The scenario with Charlie, authorising the interrogation, her virtual abduction, her choice to join the mission?
6. The portrait of Charlie, Florence You and her performance, young woman, her acting, her false stories about her family background? Belonging in the group, outspoken, performances, Joan of Arc? Her acting and identifying with the characters? Going to Greece, the holiday, on the beach, meeting Thomas, the attraction, his being enigmatic, her friends and their urging her on? The trip to Athens, the night on the Parthenon, the relationship? The Israelis observing her?
7. Thomas, his posing, Gardi, his cover, the background, recruiting Charlie, the visit to the Parthenon, the attraction, yet his being enigmatic, the secrecy?
8. Charlie, the confrontation, her reaction, the pressures on her? Encounters with Rachel and the other female agents? The research and scenario expert? The range of male agents? The explanations, the scenario, her motivation, choice?
9. The background of the terrorists at the time, Salim, his brothers and sister, the network? The initial bombing, the child in the English country home? The filming of the terrorists? Arresting Salim, his being confined in the cell, the interrogations, his treatment, the agents, the meals, psychologist? His being let out, wanting the information from him, his girlfriend’s death, the Israelis and their promises? Wanting his brother? The bombs, their transport, wanting the destination, his giving it? Arranging his death in the car?
10. The scenario, Charlie and his Salim’s girlfriend, the extensive training with Gardi, her writing the letters, their manufacturing the correspondence, the dates and details, Charlie identifying with the girl? The task, transporting the explosives, delivering them, the Israelis intercepting the messages, Austria as the destination? The drive, the explosives in the car, her not smoking, the interrogation by the police?
11. The device of Charlie going into action, but the frequent flashbacks to the situation, the training, Gardi as Salim? Charlie in action, heeding the advice, going back to the training situations, knowing the pointers that would preserve her identity?
12. The credibility for Charlie as Salim’s girlfriend, her knowledge, even to knowing how to shoot on his advice? Helga, the other agents, coming to see her, testing her? Her ingenuity in keeping her cool?
13. England is the target, terrorist bombings and other capitals?
14. Charlie, the Israelis not giving her full information, trusting her to make the right decisions? The credibility of her transformation, meeting Salim’s sister, the doctor, the tests? Buying the guns? Believing her, transforming her, the clothes, going to the military camp, the life there, the details of the training, the ideology? The discussions with the sister?
15. Her going to England, Helga’s presence, her meeting the brother, the discussions with him, her admiration for him, the plan for the bombing, her letting Gardi she is one? The delivery of the bombs? The dealings with the professor? The staged explosion, carrying out the body to the ambulance, the credibility?
16. Charlie, going back to the house, with the brother, the effect, the admiration, the sexual encounter, yet the truth?
17. Gardi and the other agents, approaching the house, the attack, the brother and the confrontation, his death?
18. The mission accomplished? The Israeli team and the sense of achievement? Yet Gardi and his anger, about the treatment of Charlie? Her going to Berlin, finding him, with him?
