Rated: M
Directed by: Lydia Dean Pitcher
Written by: Sarah Megan Thomas (original screenplay)
Produced by: Sarah Megan Thomas p.g.a.
Edited by: Paul Tothill (BAFTA nominee)
Starring: Sarah Megan Thomas, Stana Katic, Radhika Apte, Linus Roache and Rossif Sutherland.
It’s your light that lights the world
Inspired by true events, A Call To Spy follows two civilians recruited by Churchill’s new spy agency’s (Special Operations Executive (SOE)) Vera Atkins (Stana Katic), to become the first female spies in the recently fallen France during WWII.
Nazi domination in Europe 1941 asks for extreme measures to disrupt Occupation, to create rebellion, to set France on fire.
Virginia Hall (Sarah Megan Thomas, also producer and writer) is to lead on the ground.
Noor Inayat Khan (Radhika Atpe), the fastest wireless in her unit, to radio the messages.
Operation Brigitte (Virginia’s byline as alias journalist: Brigitte LeContre) is born.
It’s inspiring to watch the courage of the unlikely spies being trained: Virginia the rich American with a wooden leg who dreamt of being a diplomat, and the Muslim pacifist, a descendant of Indian Royalty and believer of peace and truth who refuses to give up, who has resolved to resist the Nazi Occupation of the country she grew up in and loved, France.
The film sheds new light on the hideous grip Nazi Germany had over the French population, the lack of food, forced labour – the betrayal of friends bred out of desperation.
It’s not that the film becomes too bloody or gory, but I always find war movies a difficult watch.
The seeming lightness of, A Call To Spy at the beginning drew me into the exciting world of rescue and secret messages; the danger of getting caught, yet escaping.
But as the war progresses, the deeper the conflict and the more at stake.
As mistakes are made the Colonel Maurice Buckmaster (Linus Roache) admits the horror when doing your best just isn’t enough. When making the wrong decision means lives are lost.
The task given to Britain’s amateur spies is described by the Colonel as a lonely courage.
So the reality of war, the murder, the betrayal and the secrets even amongst the spies is revealed as the sadness and horror of the brutality of war continues. Which is why I find watching war movies difficult. It gets me every time. The anger.
Yet, I got swept up in this story, which provoked admiration of the courage to keep going, no matter the danger.
Bon courage.
Which shows the quality of the cast and the restraint by director, Lydia Dean Pilcher.
If you’re sensitive to those war provoked emotions. This one sneaks up.
Virginia Hall is the subject of three 2019 biographies. Her prosthesis, Cuthbert, is named on the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to OSS (precursor to CIA). Noor Inayat Khan was recently commemorated with Britain’s prestigious Blue Plaque.