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- 2020
- PG-13
- IFC Films
- 2 h 3 m
- 2020
- PG-13
- IFC Films
- 2 h 3 m
Summary As Great Britain’s forces were stretched thin during World War II, Winston Churchill’s Special Operations Executive (SOE) began to enlist women as spies. Their daunting mission: conduct sabotage and build a resistance. Spymistress Vera Atkins, later the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond franchise, was the ch...
Directed By: Lydia Dean Pilcher
Written By: Sarah Megan Thomas
- 2020
- PG-13
- IFC Films
- 2 h 3 m
- 2020
- PG-13
- IFC Films
- 2 h 3 m
A Call to Spy
65
6.8
Where to Watch
Summary As Great Britain’s forces were stretched thin during World War II, Winston Churchill’s Special Operations Executive (SOE) began to enlist women as spies. Their daunting mission: conduct sabotage and build a resistance. Spymistress Vera Atkins, later the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond franchise, was the ch...
Directed By: Lydia Dean Pilcher
Written By: Sarah Megan Thomas
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 10 Critic Reviews
65
60% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
30% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
10% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 10 Critic Reviews
65
60% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
30% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
10% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
An engrossing and often thrilling spy drama, and a tribute to this courageous and diverse group of women.
In a world hungering for depictions of national valor and compassion, the movie’s variations on heroism are a boon.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 21 User Ratings
6.8
43% Positive
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
48% Mixed
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
10% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 21 User Ratings
6.8
43% Positive
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
48% Mixed
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
10% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Стана Катич очень хорошо сыграла роль Веры Аткинс, за что ей высшая оценка.
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This deserving movie brings to life a time and story that is convincing and always thoughtful. Writer, producer, star, Sarah Meagan Thomas (Backwards ’12) proves her worth as a seriously talented creative force and is to be applauded for this heartfelt effort. Without sensationalizing she tells of the harrowing fact-based trials and brave achievements, of these praiseworthy women - who risked it all for their country and ideals within the WW11 Special Operations Executive (also exposes some unforgivable collaborators whose vile betrayals should not be forgotten) It's good-looking, well-produced, acted, and directed by prolific producer Lydia Dean Pilcher - with sterling contributions from all involved. Those interested in the history of these troubled times should not be disappointed.
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An important, compelling story that had to be told.
Although the film hews closely to the historical record, the pace is so sedate one wonders if a brisker production could have carried the story on to the war’s end, as Hall’s exploits were ongoing.
Thomas and Pilcher are determined to avoid making a flashy war epic, and stress the sacrifices of everyone involved; the downside of this is that A Call to Spy has a stolid pacing that makes you feel every minute of its two-hours-plus running time. But it’s still an interesting story that’s yet to fully come into the light.
One wishes the movie had been imagined as a limited series, which would give viewers an opportunity to spend more time with these women whose lives were so clearly rich and textured — not to mention, courageous.
Because its focus is so split, the film lacks the pervasive sense of danger one expects from a spy thriller.
The main problem with the film is that spends a great deal of time telling us that Virginia Hall was a great spy, but actually shows us very little of her activities as a spy. In the entire 2 hours of the film we see her take part in only one act of espionage and the scene is so dark, so brief, and probably so badly underfunded that it really has very little impact.
Overall, I'd say it's more of a soap opera than a "spy film." And of course it has nothing whatsoever in common with action fantasies like Bourne and Bond etc, etc.
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This is an interesting story with some good performances but its not quite as gripping as I may have expected. It's certainly tense and its very much a character driven film, as there aren't a lot of visual effects or action based scenes to keep you entertained. That's not necessarily a bad thing, depending on what you like. There's also a fair bit of subtitles present, so that may or may not bother you - thats unavoidable given the film is set in France. Its interesting how people are shown to be suspicious of others, sometimes rightly so perhaps... it makes you wonder how it must have been to live at such a time. I'd like to think I won't experience a world war but these days, who knows. Its a good enough type watch, the story is certainly intriguing but its not one of the most gripping films I've seen, so I don't think I'd actively recommend this film as such, no.
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(Mauro Lanari)
The emotion would have been more intense if Pilcher had avoided the rhetoric of those who remained far from the front, however she was good at not reducing the film to feminist propaganda.
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Es una película decente que pudo haber sido mucho mejor; las actuaciones son buenas y la trama es interesante; la historia de las mujeres espías merece más reconocimiento.
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If you watch this film believing that you will see an action story of what you might think are spies in WWII, prepare for a disappointment. There's none of that here.
In fact, as a small comparison to give you an idea, this film seemed similar to Hidden Figures. Each one enhancing its own theme of course.
Very interesting, but not so rewarding.
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Awards
Whistler Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Edinburgh International Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
