A Call To Spy Film (2020) Film Review
The story of Vera Atkins, a crafty spy recruiter, and two of the first women she selects for Churchill's "secret army": Virginia Hall, a daring American undaunted by a disability and Noor Inayat Khan, a pacifist. These civilian women form an unlikely sisterhood while entangled in dangerous missions to turn the tide of the war.
Garry Llewellyn
8 min read
Rating: 4.6/5
This film has started conversations about Vera Atkins, Virginia Hall and Noor Inayat Khan. This helps to keep their memories alive.
★★★★
👍 What works
The untold true story of Britain’s first female spies
Outstanding performances from the three leads
Impressive wartime atmosphere and detail
👎 What doesn’t
The film struggles to decide what it wants to be
Some tense moments lack real suspense
Too much story for the runtime
The Silver Hedgehog Rating: Recommended
Introduction To A Call To Spy
After a flick through films to put on my Cinema Paradiso list, I spotted ‘A Call To Spy’. I noticed it starred Stana Katic of Castle and Absentia fame (both a firm favourite of editor JJ). So we decided to sit down and watch a WW2 thriller, with an important story to tell.
A Call To Spy is part spy thriller and part biopic, charting the early days of Britain’s spy agency SOE ;Special Operations Executive'. While distinct from today's MI5 and MI6, the SOE helped shape many of Britain's post-war intelligence and covert operations capabilities.Churchill had ordered SOE agents to “set Europe ablaze” through espionage, sabotage and building a resistance network across Europe. In the early days of the SOE the agents were male, and England was losing male spies as fast as we could train them. A radical rethink was needed, and the order was given recruit, train and send women into the field as spies. ‘A Call To Spy’ documents the first female spies: Vera Atkins, Noor Inayat Khan, and spymistress Virginia Hall. It shows us a glimpse of how stoic these women were and what they had to endure, for very little credit from their country.
If you are looking for a more light hearted take on WWII You might also be interested Rodger Moore' Escape to Athena.
Listen to Garry talk about a call to spy on our Hogcast
The Script/Screenplay
The film is produced, written, and directed by Sarah Megan Thomas. Inspired by a true story, Thomas has curated a screenplay from diligent research, talking with remaining family members to get accounts for real life events that have been woven into the film. Grounding the film in a tangible reality does create a few issues. First the script does not really figure out what type of film it wants to be. As a thriller , the pacing is odd so doesn’t come across as a true thriller. As a biopic it kind of works, however this is an ensemble film so screen time is rationed across all the main cast, causing pacing issues and expedited character development.
We get a film that flicks between the UK and France, spending too little time in either. This results in a jail break scene that starts off well and then loses momentum, so we watch a game of monopoly being played. I know what they were going for, but it misses the mark. In another scene a group of spies are almost captured, but you never feel that they are at risk. The 2 hours run time may seem long, but it is nowhere near enough to convey the journey this group of people endured. A bigger story has yet to be told. All that being I love how ambitious A Call To Spy is, and what Thomas puts on screen with the budget and time is well worth watching
''Sarah Megan Thomas has crafted a film that immerses you in a world that you could never be a part of.''
Garry - The Silver Hedgehog
Standout Casting
Sarah Megan Thomas as Virginia Hall
‘’I’ve never seen so much hatred. The Germans control what the French read and hear. False information is everywhere. The latest, an anti-Semitic exhibition. There are lines down the block to see it.’’
Until I watched ‘A Call To Spy’ I didn’t know anything about either Sarah Megan Thomas or Virginia Hall. As it turns out Thomas is an extremely capable actress, writer, and producer.
Virginia Hall is an American with dreams of becoming a diplomat only to be turned down due to having a wooden leg. The newly formed SOE see an opportunity to use this brash American as the perfect spy and Virginia’s story begins. Thomas’ portrayal shows a woman that must face the daily battle of the pain of having a wooden leg and the laser focused determination of succeeding where men had failed. Virginia Hall had a point to prove on so many levels. Thomas is not afraid to let emotions and vulnerability play out on screen. A scene where Virginia mentally contemplates crossing the mountains whilst preparing her squeaky wooden leg is most poignant
Stana Katic as Vera Atkins
‘’Oh, I’m sure if I hadn’t found her, she would have found us, Mr. Donovan. Just like she found you.’’
Watching the DVD extras its clear why Katic signed on to play Vera Atkins. She is passionate about the story being told and this enthusiasm radiates from her performance. Katic arrives on screen sporting a quintessential 1940’s accent. It is an accent full of elocution and seems quite over the top. We found it quite amusing until her ‘funny accent’ is addressed in the film, and all becomes clear.
Pronounced elocution aside, Katic dominates the scenes that she is in. Schooling spies, walking the tight rope between being subservient to the dominant men in power and rightfully pushing her own forthright agenda. Katic’s performance of Vera Atkins nails a persona that became a role model to the other female recruits.
Radhika Apte as Noor Inayat Khan
“I can’t even lift my radio. And frankly, I cannot lie. I make a miserable spy. I wonder what my father would think if he knew my path led me here. I’m a pacifist, and they are teaching us to kill.”
Apte delivers as Noor Inayat Khan, a displaced princess of a forgotten land and pacifist by nature caught up in the hell of war. Khan goes through so much in the film from starting out as determined, but timid and being put through a range of experiences that would break an average person. Apte’s performance is assured and believable, bringing to the screen the emotions and experiences Khan is going through.
Linus Roache as Maurice Buckmaster
“Your latest recruits have been doing impressive work, and Virginia’s been spectacular. You were right about her. Good find.”
Buckmaster is your typical upper crust British officer reporting to those on the floor above. He does not overtly give the women a hard time, but you can sense a little hesitancy in his actions. Roache plays the character just right, he could have gone more over the top but finds the right balance of assertiveness and steadfast dedication to the cause. Roache also has an excellent on-screen relationship with Katic, and they play off each other very well.
''A Call To Spy highlights topics like anti-Semitism in Britain and the distrust of immigrants''
Garry - The Silver Hedgehog
Sound/Music/Score
Provided in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1and the surround track provides excellent ambience. Birds singing in the countryside to trains puffing at stations. The centre channel is mixed brilliantly with crisp clear dialogue
Lillie Rebecca McDonough is on composure duties and has created a measured score that reflects the film well. Its not bombastic or indeed memorable, but it is a pleasure to listen to alongside the film. Its orchestral tones do the job of enhancing the on-screen images very well. Refreshingly I did not notice any other score influences. Super job.
If you wanted to listen to the score, unfortunately I have been unable to locate it separately on any streaming service
Visual Effects
The visual effects are superb for a film of this scale. Filmed using parts of Budapest to replicate 1940’s Paris, the attention to detail is spot on. From the highly obvious Nazi propaganda to the subtle nuances such as shop windows, anti-Nazi graffiti or the period costumes being used.
The use of green screen is inconspicuous and explosions, bullet wounds are realistic.
Video Quality
The films cinematography was handled by Robby Baumgartner and Miles Goodall (who looked after the Budapest shoot). While watching a call to spy you would not know that the film had two directors of photography as they have perfectly complemented each’s own style,
I watched ‘A Call To Spy’ on Blu-ray, using a Panasonic Blu-Ray player and Epson projector and the picture is good. I found the Blu-Ray to show film grain in parts but nothing terrible , just a little inconsistent.
A Call To Spy : Overall Thoughts
Cinema is at its best when telling the most amazing stories. Immersing the viewer into a world that they have never been a part of; educating, entertaining making us laugh, cry, and think. Sarah Megan Thomas has crafted a film that does exactly that. A Call To Spy immerses the viewer in the throes of WW2 in war torn France and belligerent Britain. It introduces us to incredibly influential people. It’s no exaggeration to say that the actions performed by this small group of women went on to influence the world for years to come after the war. Their story has not been told to the masses and it’s a crying shame. It’s not just about the people either, A Call To Spy highlights topics like anti-Semitism in Britain and the distrust of immigrants, it shows us glimpses of life in France under the Nazis and the trauma that the French locals had to live through. All incredibly important topics to talk about.
Overall, the attention to detail that Sarah Megan Thomas has instilled on the production has to be acknowledged. I enjoyed watching A Call To Spy, it has highlighted aspects of WW2, that I was unaware of, so on that level the film totally works. It has also started conversations about Vera Atkins, Virginia Hall and Noor Inayat Khan. This helps to keep their memories alive. Whilst I was writing this review, I was told of some great memorials to the women and World War 2 podcast exploring key aspects of WW2 something I would never have come across on my own.
The Silver Hedgehog Rating: 4 .6 Recommended
The Script / Screenplay
🦔🦔🦔🦔 4
Casting
🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔 5
Music / Score
🦔🦔🦔🦔 4
Visual Effects and Costumes
🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔 5
Video Quality
🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔 5
Words Garry
Editor JJ
Images The Movie Database
Release Date 2 Oct 2020
Director Lydia Dean Pilcher
Staring:
Sarah Megan Thomas as Virginia Hall
Stana Katic as Vera Atkins
Radhika Apte as Noor Inayat Khan
Linus Roache as Maurice Buckmaster
Rossif Sutherland as Dr. Chevain
Samuel Roukin as Christopher
Andrew Richardson as Alfonse
Laila Robins as Pirani
Marc Rissmann as Klaus Barbie
Mathilde Ollivier as Giselle
Runtime 2 hr 3 min
Images IFC Films
A Call to Spy Information
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About Garry
I’ve been writing in‑depth reviews since 2020 and I’m a proud supporter of independent cinema. I’m a lifelong Sci‑Fi fan, and I probably spend far too much time photographing anything that catches my eye.
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