Queen King As Spy

John Le Carre arguably stands for first-rate spy thrillers like no other writer. Le Carre, who himself worked as an undercover agent for Britain's MI5 and MI6 intelligence agencies, has used his expertise in more than twenty novels to create thrilling and involving stories. One of his finest works is the novel Dame King As Spy, first published in 1974, which Swedish director Tomas Alfredson (So Dark the Night) has now congenially adapted with a first-rate ensemble of actors.

In 1973, in the midst of the Cold War, retired spy George Smiley (Gary Oldman) is unexpectedly reactivated by his former boss Control (John Hurt). He is to take on an explosive assignment: unmasking a mole at the top of British intelligence agency MI6. Four senior officers and the director of SIS are suspected of being the leak that gives the KGB classified information. With a small squad of loyal allies, Smiley sets out to hunt down the mole. And he quickly realizes that the traitor seems to know him well, as he purposefully uses Smiley's weaknesses against him.

For his first English-language project, Tomas Alfredson has taken on an extremely ambitious work. Not only are there an immense number of entanglements, some of them very complicated, established in long dialogue sequences. Moreover, Alfredson had to tame a whole squad of respected actors, whereby one or the other ego certainly didn't make his work any easier. From that he succeeded in making a really impressive political thriller, which of course primarily lives from the fact that it's an immense pleasure to watch the ensemble gathered here play. Whether it's the truly terrific work Gary Oldman delivers, Oscar winner Colin Firth, Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch, Batman's latest antagonist Tom Hardy or veteran star John Hurt, they all make Dame King As Spy acting cinema of the best kind.

Another important performer is the authentic 70s set. The secret SIS (Secret Intelligence Service) negotiation rooms in particular give off an especially authentic vibe. Alfredson's staging also fits the décor very well. It also seems somehow old-fashioned, but this is not to be seen in a negative light. His Le Carre adaptation may seem like a classic political thriller that does without explosive action and draws its suspense more from an underlying mood based on paranoia. The story itself, however, which is essentially about loyalty, feels thoroughly contemporary and so not at all dusty.

Although the identity of the mole might be clear to practiced viewers or connoisseurs of the novel relatively quickly, Dame King As Spy remains suspenseful and gripping to the end. It may be that the thriller doesn't really offer easy popcorn entertainment for a broad audience. The whole thing is probably a bit too dialogue-heavy for that. But who appreciates sophisticated suspense cinema and has a soft spot for political thrillers, should not miss this first-class cast and superbly directed film in any case. Worth seeing

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp