This feature from IFC Films will be available in select theaters and on digital & cable VOD October 2nd.
There have been numerous war films released in recent memory, with a new title seemingly arriving every couple of months. The new biopic A Call to Spy is another in a long line of war thrillers, but at least this effort does offer something a little different. Inspired by real figures in World War II, the movie depicts a small group of women who served as spies in France during the Nazi occupation. Their story isn’t as well-known as it should be and this independent feature does its best to try and draw more attention to their heroic work behind enemy lines.
The story begins in 1941 with German forces occupying much of Europe. Believing that officers are less likely to suspect females as potential threats, a desperate Winston Churchill approves a new spy agency called the SOE (Special Operations Executive) to train civilian women to serve as spies. Section head Maurice Buckmaster (Linus Roache) and his assistant Vera Atkins (Stana Katic) pick their first two very unique recruits. The first is Virginia Hall (Sarah Megan Thomas), an American with an artificial limb, and the second is Muslim pacifist Noor Inayat (Radhika Apte). Hall and Inayat go through a tough training and are soon put in danger as they each try to help resistance fighters and send important details back to military leaders in England while avoiding capture.
Hall appears to be the main character and there’s more focus on her experience in Lyon, while intercutting to the other two women stories. Thomas is fine in the role and tries to imbue Hall with a straight-forward and direct confidence, but Inayat is by far the most dynamic character and ends up as the film’s standout. The plot takes her to the most extreme places both emotionally and physically and the performance is remarkably sympathetic and relatable. And when the all characters are involved in clandestine operations trying to evade capture, the movie works very well. There’s always a sense of unease and tension as these women are stopped by officers, forced to present their papers and explain their behavior without giving themselves away.
In addition to the immediate dangers, each of the leads has to deal with interpersonal struggles. Atkins is given a job title is much lower than what her work entails and isn’t trusted by some within the organization because of her background and immigrant status. Hall contends with being passed over for various jobs because of her artificial limb, and Inayat must deal with the opposing views of family members and taking on a role in the war that in some ways contrasts her own personal beliefs. Naturally, all the characters end up delivering what amounts to speeches on their concerns and issues with their superiors at various points in the feature. These moments are well performed, but at times are so earnest that they feel too on-the-nose.
While it is generally well made (especially considering the film was independently produced), having a story that jumps back and forth between three characters who only occasionally cross paths results in minor issues. One can imagine the passion to tell all of their experiences in as much detail as possible, but the approach does occasionally fog things up and push the most engaging character and elements into the background.
It is wonderful that A Call to Spy has been made and can bring attention to lesser-known war heroes. And the filmmakers have done an impressive job of recreating the era and locations on a limited budget as well as providing some tense moments. Yet, one can’t help but think it might have been wiser to really pinpoint its attention on a specific individual rather than cut between several characters, and instead focus on the immeasurable hardships one figure experienced abroad and on their own in a dangerous land.