A CALL TO SPY

US, 2019, 123 minutes, Colour.
Sarah Megan Thomas,Stana Katic, Radhika Apte, Linus Roache, Rossif Sutherland.
Directed by Lydia Dean Pilcher.

While this film makes quite a strong impact, it is a surprise to find such a film about World War II released 75 years after the end of the war. It is also a surprise to find that, while it is a British story, it is an American production, the writer and star, Sarah Megan Thomas, American, and the director, Lydia Dean Pilcher, also American. And filming took place in the United States. However, it must be said that the British atmosphere is credible as is the atmosphere of wartime France, the countryside, the city of Lyon.

In many ways, this film is a throwback to the 1950s, the many war tributes made at that time, the way that Britain dealt with the war by filming many of the stories, the heroics as well as the challenges of the resistance and torture. In 1950, Anna Neagle portrayed the agent, Odette, and in 1957 Virginia McKenna? played Violelette Szabo, a resistance fighter in Carve Her Name with Pride.

The film reminds us of the role of Churchill in the war, his response to the fall of France and the experience of the rescue from Dunkirk. He was concerned with the Resistance and was interested in planting agents throughout France. The story focuses on a special department, Special Operations Executive. The role of the department was to recruit spies but with an emphasis on engaging women, training them, sending them into enemy territory. The head of the executive is played by Linus Roache (one of the few actual British actors present in the film) and his assistant, Vera, is played by Stana Katic.

The main focus of the film is an agent, Virginia Hill, played by the film’s screenwriter, Sarah Megan Thomas. She is an American who has travelled widely, lived in Europe, has many languages and has been trying to become part of the diplomatic service. She is hampered, however, by having an artificial leg, an amputation after an accident. However, she attracts Vera’s attention who interviews her and sends her on a rigorous training program. The other agent focused on is a woman of Indian background, Noor, Radhika Apte, who is involved in radio and signals work, very skilful with codes. She also agrees to be an agent, taking her equipment into France for transmissions.

Much of the action takes place in France. Virginia has a codename, establishes contacts, especially with the local doctor, activates local groups, becomes involved in serious sabotage, goes onto the hit list by the Nazi authorities. She manages to survive for two years. Noor, eventually going into France, has to move from place to place so that she is not discovered with her radio contact. The film focuses on some local characters, an elderly woman who is willing to offer hospitality secretly, a doctor with whom Virginia becomes very friendly.

One of the characters as a local priest who gives thundering sermons against the Nazis – but Virginia is suspicious about his authenticity. The priest is also connected with Klaus Barbie, well-known over the years and seen in many war films, the butcher of Lyon. He is seen in action here.

While, ultimately, the mission was successful, the British Executive also noted the wide range of mistakes that were made, lives lost.

So, making quite an impact 75 years after the war, this is both a memoir and a tribute, especially to the women agents, their mission, their lives, experience of torture, executions.

1. The title? True story? World War II? The traditions of films on World War II heroism – in the 50s, later decades?

2. An American production? British story? Perspectives?

3. London, the early 1940s, throughout the war, offices, training centres? War atmosphere? Musical score?

4. The transition to France, the countryside, the towns, the city of Lyon, daily life, war experiences? The railways, the mountains, escape routes? Prison and torture?

5. Churchill, his role in the war, the fall of France, backing the Resistance, the Special Operations Executive, the role of Maurice Buckmaster? Decision about agents, men? Especially women?

6. Vera Atkins, her role in working with Buckmaster, efficient, scouting for agents? The other members of the staff? Decisions? In favour or not of women agents?

7. Virginia Hall, her American background, her travel throughout Europe, presence in London, their experience of languages, wanting to be a diplomat, her being rejected? Her having the artificial leg, its drawbacks? The party, the encounter with Vera, the interview, the proposal?

8. Noor, her work, radio, signals and codes, the family background, India, her parents? The later visit to her mother? Grieving at her death?

9. Vera and her Romanian background, Jewish, prejudice against her, her wanting documents, xenophobia, suspicions of her and deportation? Ultimate success?

10. The sequences of training, the harsh rigour, the friendships, Virginia and Noor? The cyanide pills?

11. The transition to France, agents parachuted in, the local Resistance members? Virginia, going to the city, her name, her code, settling in, the various contacts? The doctor, his work, the bond? Her activities, the sabotage? The writer groups? The suspicion of the priest? Her success and reputation? The Nazis, the posters, her being wanted? Her meeting up with Noor, getting her accommodation? The perennial dangers?

12. Noor, her training, going to France, her equipment, the cover, Virginia helping, and having to move from place to place, the different transmissions? Using her wits, discovery, her arrest and torture, her death?

13. The intercutting of the activity in France with the British headquarters, the reports, decisions, the mistakes, the Nazis using Noor’s codes?

14. The character of the priest, his sermons against the Nazis, ultimately exposed, its being a cover? With Klaus Barbie?

15. Audience knowledge of Klaus Barbie, his role in the on during the war, his reputation? Seeing him in action?

16. The presence of the Nazis, the guards, the streets, torture?

17. Virginia, the arrest of the doctor, his execution? Organising her escape, transforming her appearance, the train journey, crossing the Pyrenees, getting to Portugal, back to London?

18. The end of the war, the agents, success, the many losses?

19. Virginia, her role in the UK, the continued support? Providing background knowledge?

20. The film as a memoir, 75 years after the war ended, a tribute to the heroic women?