Next time you’re looking for a movie based on historical events, look no further than “A Call To Spy.”
Recently, I watched the film “A Call to Spy” on Netflix. The film was released in late 2020 in the United States. The film was produced and written by Sarah Megan Thomas and directed by Lydia Dean Pilcher. It’s a historical drama set in World War Ⅱ that tells the story of three females who were spies for Britain during World War Ⅱ.
The three main actresses in the roles of the female spies are Thomas, who plays Virginia Hall, Radhika Apte, who plays Noor Khan and Stana Katic, who plays Vera Atkins.
The film shows the bravery Hall, Atkins and Khan had to carry out while on the risky missions assigned to them. Through the spy agency, “Special Operations Executive,” which was run by Winston Churchill, this spy agency scouted and taught females how to be spies. The goal of all their missions was to derail the agenda that Hitler had and to create a resistance against him and his military.
The agency was started because France wasn’t able to obtain information regarding the war across the English Channel. The secret spy agency began in 1940 after the Nazis took over France, and it consisted of women because they were less likely to be suspected as spies. Also, the agency was on the lookout for women who were wireless operators since this was how information about the war was sent back to the spy agency in France.
“A Call To Spy” will keep you on the edge of your seat as dangerous spy missions are carried out. Considering the dangers of being a spy against the Nazis, many of the spies were caught and murdered immediately. If not killed, then they were sent to a concentration camp after months of imprisonment and torture by the Nazis.
One of the things that stunned me about what the female spies went through during that time is what they were given before they left on their secret mission. Their agency gave them cyanide pills as an option to take to commit suicide instead of being horrifically tortured by the Nazis in prison if they were to be captured.
Overall, I give “A Call To Spy” a 10/10 in all aspects. One example is the film’s costume design. I noticed the film completely embodied that time period through aspects like the attire worn by the actors.
The acting in the film was also superb and seemed completely natural — to the point that it makes you feel as if you’re in the film yourself.
The camera work throughout the film was top-notch, highlighting the roller coaster of emotions during the various points in the film. In general, the cinematography kept me interested in the film and immersed me in the story of the spies.
In my opinion, director Thomas executed the film well in all aspects. In general, she did a wonderful job of capturing the history of the 1940s. The film was detailed in all the elements of the plot, from showing how the spies were recruited in France to why they were recruited to the skills they had.
The overall mood of the film was suspenseful, including the climax, which displayed the atrocities that many people endured because of the Nazis. However, the film was also hopeful.
The ending was thorough with a satisfying resolution that gave a clear picture of what happened to each spy, including real pictures of Virginia Hall and the final outcome for her.
I recommend students to watch the film “A Call To Spy” for the heroic message it has and also for the top-tier camera work, acting and costume design. You won’t regret giving this film a shot, especially if you’re into historical films. Next time you are looking for what to watch on Netflix, check out “A Call To Spy.” It is an emotional thriller that you will not forget after watching.