christian movie review the courier

The Courier

Reviewed by: Keith Rowe CONTRIBUTOR

Cold War spy Greville Wynne (1919-1990), a British engineer and businessman

Man who steps up to fill a challenging need

Courage in the face of danger

Patriot / patriotism

The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962

Soviet agent Oleg Penkovsky (1919-1963), a high-ranking GRU officer who helped defuse the dangerous situation

Soviet nuclear program

Recruitment by Britain’s MI-6

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operations

Altering the course of the Cold War

Being imprisoned / prison / prisoner

About SPIES in the Bible

T he Cold War heats up in this political thriller from director Dominic Cooke (“On Chesil Beach”).

A Russian spy, Oleg Penkovsky ( Merab Ninidze ), secretly believes Soviet leader Khrushchev’s ( Vladimir Chuprikov ) policies and rhetoric have become too aggressive (“…we…will…bury them!”), and that he shouldn’t be in control of an arsenal of nuclear weapons. Penkovsky sends a message to MI6 in London, which outlines his plans to relay top secret information to British Intelligence in exchange for extraction from Russia.

In a bold move, MI6’s Dickie Franks ( Angus Wright ) and CIA agent Emily Donovan ( Rachel Brosnahan ) recruit a British businessman, Greville Wynne ( Benedict Cumberbatch ), to establish contact with Penkovsky. Wynne flies to Russia on a business trip to meet Penkovsky, and the two men begin an association that will lead them into ever greater intrigue and danger.

I’d love to tell you more of the plot, but then I’d have to kill you… and I like you. So I won’t.

There are two reasons I wanted to review this film:

Though it doesn’t directly deal with the conflict, the subject of the movie is the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. This is a personal historical event for me, since my father served aboard a destroyer that was part of the blockade (his ship turned its large deck gun on a Russian U-boat, which promptly tucked tail and headed back to the U.S.S.R.).

The movie stars Cumberbatch , whom I esteem as one of the finest actors of our generation. His acting in this film has further reinforced that opinion. Not only is Cumberbatch’s performance finely-nuanced, his Tom Hanks (“Philadelphia” and “Cast Away”) and Christian Bale (“The Machinist”) style emaciation is startling (more on that later).

So, have you seen this movie before under different guises? Yes.

Penkovsky’s plan to leave Russia is reminiscent of Marko Ramius’ (Sean Connery) intention to defect from Russia to the U.S. on the eponymous nuclear submarine in “ The Hunt for Red October ” (1990). Another similarity between these films is Penkovsky’s desire to live in Montana, the same state Captain Borodin ( Sam Neill ) wants to live in after he’s defected from Russia in the “…Red October.”

Of course, a more recent touchstone for this film is Steven Spielberg’s “ Bridge of Spies ” (2015). In that movie, also set during the Cold War, American insurance lawyer, Jim Donovan ( Tom Hanks ) is sent to Berlin to mediate the exchange of an American pilot for a captured Russian spy, Rudolf Abel ( Mark Rylance ).

There are many parallels between “The Courier” and “ Bridge of Spies .” Both films are set during the Cold War and both are based on real events. Also, both Wynne and Donovan are hardworking everymen with no prior espionage experience. They both befriend a Russian spy, albeit for completely different reasons. Both men step up to the challenge (lesser men simply wouldn’t have gotten involved) and exhibit courage in the face of danger.

The script by Tom O’Connor is a slow-boil political yarn in the vein of “ Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy ” (2011), which also featured Cumberbatch in its cast. For those who enjoy a well-structured plot with riveting intrigue and mild action, this film is for you. Those who prefer more action in their spy film (a la James Bond) might be disappointed by this movie’s slow start and deliberate pacing throughout.

Cooke’s sure-handed direction is further abetted by Sean Bobbitt’s crisp, moody cinematography. Though many of its scenes are shot indoors, the film makes excellent use of its Prague and London locations. Most of the on-location work was shot under overcast skies, which further enhances the film’s melancholy mood.

Objectionable Material

Alcohol: This is ubiquitous in the movie. There literally isn’t enough room here to detail every instance of characters imbibing. Alcohol is shown or consumed in nearly half of the scenes in the first half of the movie. From drinking in pubs to drinking at business lunches to drinking at the office or at home, characters are constantly shown consuming alcohol.

One of Franks’ and Donovan’s concerns with recruiting Wynne is that he drinks too much. Wynne is asked if he can hold his alcohol. He wryly smiles and replies, “My one true gift.”

Drugs: Smoking is nearly as prevalent as drinking in the movie. People smoke cigarettes in all the places listed above, as well as outside on streets and sidewalks.

Nudity and Sexual Content: There’s only one sex scene, per se , in the movie. Wynne kisses his wife Sheila ( Jessie Buckley ) on the neck and mouth. They move on top of the bed while still fully clothed; we see their passionate kissing in the reflection from a mirror. The next scene shows the couple in bed under the covers.

Early in the movie, Wynne reveals that he’d been caught having an affair . This is confirmed later when Sheila tells a friend that there’s no way Wynne could be a spy because “he couldn’t even hide his affair from me.” At one point, Sheila also mentions her surprise at how “energetic in bed” her husband was.

After his capture, Wynne is ordered to strip. There are two shots of him completely nude from the front with his hands covering his private area. Later, we see a long shot of a naked Wynne from behind. The deprivation he’s endured in prison accounts for his severely emaciated form. A shocking scene.

Violence and Graphic Content: A man is shot in the head. The scene is quick and isn’t overly gory.

A man is punched in the gut. Later, he’s kicked, punched and clubbed by prison guards. There’s an implied anal cavity search. The man’s cell is disgusting, as is the soup he’s given to eat (floaties).

In two brutal displays, a woman is pushed against a wall by an assailant and a man is violently dragged from his home as his wife and daughter look on in terror.

Vulgarities: Compared to other films of its kind, “The Courier” contains less than usual bad language. The movie has 1 f-word (“You f***ing animals”). It contains a few other expletives, such as: a**hole (1) and bullsh*t (1). The phrase “up yours” is repeated over and over again as a drinking salute, and the term “sucking up” is said. The British swear word “bl**dy” is heard twice.

Profanity is lighter than usual: “For G*d’s sake” (1), “Oh my G*d” (2), and h*ll (4).

It should be noted that most of the swearing comes from American characters, particularly the CIA boss ( Zeljko Ivanek ).

Spiritual Aspects

There are plenty of historical and ethical aspects of the film that could be broached, such as whether the extreme actions taken by some to prevent a nuclear war are justified, whether physical torture is an appropriate means of extracting information, the effects of adultery on marriages (the violation of the 7th Commandment —Exodus 20:14), and the everyday heroes whose courageous sacrifices often go unheralded due to political expedience and secrecy.

Instead, I’d like to focus on Lying, Spying, and Friendship…

Lying is a recurring issue in the movie. Wynne has a history of lying to his wife (over his past affair). As a spy, Wynne must lie to his wife when she presses him for details regarding his foreign business dealings. Wynne also lies to his British and Russian business associates. He withholds information (lies of omission – James 4:17) from his Russian captors.

Penkovsky tells Wynne he needs to do a better job of keeping secrets from his wife. “You have to lie better. There are good lies. Sometimes a lie is a gift… an act of love.”

This twisted view of secrets and falsehoods would seem to be in direct opposition to the Bible, which is clear-cut about lying . The 9th Commandment (found in Exodus 20:16) says: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Another word for “false testimony” is lying. Jesus defines “neighbor” as everyone: family and strangers, friends and enemies (Luke 10:25-37). To paraphrase the commandment, “You shouldn’t lie to anyone.”

But is there such a thing as a good lie? If a lie saves lives is it justifiable? And how do we square that with the righteous standard established in the Bible?

Sadly, the movie doesn’t address these important questions and seems to be pro-lying.

The entire thrust of the movie is about spying. Not only are Penkovsky and Wynne spying against the Russians, the Russians are spying on themselves. At one point, Penkovsky says, “Every Russian is an eye of the State.” These words come back to haunt him later.

The fact that “everyone” (in Russia) is spying on each other fills the film with a pervasive paranoia. It also provides a stark contrast with the scenes in London, where you don’t have the same feeling of anxiety that you do in the scenes that take place in Russia. It’s the difference between a nation spying on its enemies (Great Britain) versus a country spying on its enemies and it own citizens (Russia).

Sadly, we’ve had a long litany of spying in America. We’ve gone from spying on our neighbors (the Red Scare), to spying on political adversaries (the Watergate scandal), to spying on terrorists in our midst (the Patriot Act), to spying on individuals (Carter Page), to spying on the masses (hackers and social media platforms).

What does the Bible say about spying? The main instance of spying occurs when the Twelve Spies (including Joshua and Caleb ) are tasked with locating the Promised Land in Numbers 13:1-33. There are other instances of spies being sent out to report back the location and size of enemy armies.

But this kind of scouting is pretty far removed from the spying conducted in this film.

So, when is spying justified? Only when it produces a good result (for your side)? When it comes to spying, do the ends always justify the means?

As with many things in life, spying has good and bad applications—and ramifications. It can be used to destroy lives or save them.

At first glance, you probably wouldn’t consider this as a buddy movie, but it is. Penkovsky and Wynne (just like Donovan and Abel in “Bridge of Spies”) forge an unlikely partnership that leads to a sacrificial friendship.

When the KGB begins to close in on Penkovsky, Wynne tells Franks and Donovan, “I’m not leaving him.” Wynne flies to Russia to help extract Penkovsky at great personal risk. This heroic action brings to mind the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7).

Penkovsky and Wynne are willing to die in order to protect the secrets that can save millions of lives. John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” The ultimate exemplar of that Scripture is Jesus , who was crucified to atone for the sins of those who would repent and follow Him .

Final Thoughts

“The Courier” features deft direction, top-shelf writing and fine performances. It’s a finely mounted period piece that superbly captures the Cold War milieu.

Aside from these artistic considerations, the film recalls one of the most dangerous periods in history and leaves us with some nagging questions regarding the nature of spying.

It also spotlights courage and friendship. Penkovsky tells Wynne, “Maybe we’re only two people… but this is how things change.” That haunting line is the heart of the film.

As these two men from enemy countries could work together for the common good, we wish that our politicians could find righteous consensus to solve the many pressing challenges currently facing our nation.

• Drugs/Alcohol: Very Heavy
• Vulgar/Crude language: Heavy
• Violence: Moderate
• Nudity: Moderate
• Profane language: Mild
• Occult: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers .

PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.

'The Courier': Movie Review

Movieguide Magazine

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Based on a true story, THE COURIER is a captivating, powerful spy drama and thriller about a British businessman who’s recruited to ferry small packages and messages in 1961 and 1962 from a Soviet official who’s concerned about his country’s increasing belligerence against the West under Nikita Khrushchev. THE COURIER is one of the most brilliant, suspenseful, moving, and well-acted spy movies ever made, with a strong message against communist tyranny that’s also a powerful plea for peace, mutual understanding and friendly international relations.

The movie opens in 1961 with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev making a bellicose speech in Moscow against the United States and its Western allies. “We will bury them,” he exclaims after declaring that the time of the “imperialists” is over. In the audience is Oleg Penkovsky, an official of the Soviet Union’s military intelligence agency, the GRU. Oleg is concerned about Khrushchev’s hostile attitude toward the West. He thinks Khrushchev is too “impulsive” and “reckless.” So, he writes a secret letter to the U.S. embassy and passes it to two American tourists to deliver it. Oleg offers to give the Western allies reports on what’s happening in the Kremlin, the center of the Soviet communist government led by Khrushchev in the 1950s and early 1960s.

A CIA agent named Emily and a British intelligence officer named Dickie recruit an unassuming British businessman, Greville Wynne, to act as a courier for Oleg’s future messages and packages containing tidbits of information. Greville already does business in Eastern Europe, so it would not be suspicious for him to do the same thing in Moscow. Naturally, Greville is reluctant to do this, but Emily and Dickie, who introduce themselves to him as Helen and James, assure him he won’t have to know anything about the contents of the messages and packages.

Greville begins his Moscow activities by making a speech to a small group of Soviet technocrats, including Oleg. He considers himself a salesman who tries to satisfy the manufacturing needs of his clients, similar to being a middleman. Oleg introduces himself and tells Grevile he doesn’t like the way his first name is pronounced in English, so he tells Greville to call him Alex. The two men actually become good friends. Greville has a wife, Sheila, and a young son, Andrew, and Oleg or Alex has a wife, Vera, and a young daughter, Nina. So, they share some things in common.

The situation for Greville and Oleg becomes more dire when a spy for the Soviets sees one of the reports Oleg has written for the United States and Britain. Will they be caught by the KGB?

THE COURIER builds its story methodically. So, it’s not meant to be a flashy spy thriller with lots of intense action. However, it’s thoroughly captivating and suspenseful from beginning to end, and the second half is quite intense and moving. The movie is brilliantly directed and acted. Benedict Cumberbatch does a great job as the British businessman, Greville Wynne, and Merab Ninidze, who also played in the 1984 anti-communist Russian masterpiece, REPENTANCE, is also superb as Oleg Penkovsky. The women actors are equally fine, especially Jessie Buckley as Greville’s wife, who wonders if her husband is having an affair in Moscow. The movie’s story and plot is accompanied by a terrific soundtrack composed by Abel Korzeniowski.

The movie condenses much of the espionage activities in which Greville and Oleg participated. Also, the American CIA agent, Emily aka Helen, is a composite character. Furthermore, the first meeting Oleg had with western intelligence operators involved four men, including the head of the CIA’s new Moscow station, Joe Bulik, who’s not mentioned in the movie, but who frequently met with Oleg.

The center of the movie, however, is not Oleg Penkovsky’s relationship with western intelligence officers but his friendship with British businessman, Greville Wynne. Also, the movie doesn’t shy away from depicting the evils of the communist tyranny in the Soviet Union at the time. As someone warns Greville early on, everyone he meets in Moscow could be a KGB spy. Even if they aren’t, everyone in Moscow, including the lowliest hotel desk clerk, is expected to report any and all activities to the KGB, whether suspicious or not. In fact, he’s told that the KGB likes to employ lip readers, so whenever he meets Oleg, Greville isn’t supposed to discuss anything of a sensitive nature without Oleg starting the conversation first. Eventually, Greville gets a harsh lesson on just how brutal the communist regime in Russia could be. However, his efforts to help Oleg Penkovsky’s concerns about the Soviet Union get to the West played a major role in helping President Kennedy force Khrushchev to withdraw Russian nuclear missiles from Cuba during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

Ultimately, though the story is fictionalized and the ending a little too rosy (the title character’s marriage didn’t survive their ordeal in reality), THE COURIER is brilliant, suspenseful, moving, and well-acted. The movie has a strong moral, patriotic, anti-communist worldview stressing freedom. At the same time, it makes a robust plea for mutual understanding and peaceful relationships between countries. It’s a powerful spy movie for the ages. Caution is advised for older children for THE COURIER because of brief foul language and violence.

About The Author

MOVIEGUIDE® was founded in 1985 by Dr. Ted Baehr, past president of the Episcopal Radio & Television Foundation and former director of the Television Center at the City University of New York. MOVIEGUIDE® is affiliated with the Christian Film & Television Commission® ministry (CFTVC). Both MOVIEGUIDE® and CFTVC are dedicated to redeeming the values of the entertainment industry, according to biblical principles, by influencing industry executives and artists and by informing and educating the public about the influence of the entertainment media and about how to train their families to become More

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• DVD & Streaming

The Courier

• Biography/History , Drama , Thriller

Content Caution

In Theaters

• March 19, 2021
• Benedict Cumberbatch as Greville Wynne; Merab Ninidze as Oleg Penkovsky; Rachel Brosnahan as Emily Donovan; Angus Wright as Dickie Franks; Jessie Buckley as Sheila Wynne; Keir Hills as Andrew Wynne

Home Release Date

• June 1, 2021
• Dominic Cooke

Distributor

• Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions

Positive Elements   |   Spiritual Elements   |   Sexual & Romantic Content   |   Violent Content   |   Crude or Profane Language   |   Drug & Alcohol Content   |   Other Noteworthy Elements   | Conclusion

Movie Review

In 1960, the nuclear arms race between the USSR and the United States was coming to a head. Threats of annihilation were made, bomb shelters were created, and people on both sides were terrified.

But perhaps none more so than Colonel Oleg Penkovsky of the Soviet Union.

Penkovsky knew that, realistically, Russia wasn’t capable of wiping out the United States. Nikita Khrushchev (then president of the USSR) liked to brag about Russia’s scientific and militaristic advancements. But with a wife and young daughter at home, Penkovsky worried that the bragging would soon lead to nuclear war—and the subsequent death of himself, his family and his countrymen.

So, he secretly contacted the CIA through an American tourist, requesting help. He would provide them with the information necessary to prevent war, and in exchange, the United States government would help Penkovsky and his family defect when the time was right.

But in order to transport this top-secret information, Penkovsky still needed a source more reliable than the occasional tourist.

Sending an American would be a certain death sentence, since the last man the CIA worked with was caught and executed. And the British intelligence agency MI6, though equally invested in preventing war, was unwilling to risk escalating its own tensions with Russia if one of the group’s spies got caught.

However, the suits at MI6   could send a civilian, so long as they didn’t provide him with too many details.

Greville Wynne was a British businessman who had a liking for the drink and the ability to travel between countries without question. Truth be told, he wasn’t even aware he was talking to spies when the CIA and MI6 approached him. And he certainly didn’t want to become one himself.

But what he did want was to protect his wife and son. So, with little more knowledge than to simply be himself and await further instruction, he became Penkovsky’s new courier.

Positive Elements

Penkovsky and Wynne’s motivation to steal top-secret intel from the USSR is driven by their desire to protect their loved ones from a nuclear holocaust.

However, while working together, something unexpected happens: The two men become friends. This is quite shocking, since their countries are nearly at war. They’re supposed to hate each other—or at least only grudgingly tolerate each another. But they come to realize that the bad blood between their homelands isn’t so much about hatred towards foreigners as it is about politicians screaming about which country is better.

Both fathers teach their children that two people from very different backgrounds and lifestyles working together towards a common goal can make a difference in the world. And to this end, each man protects the other from KGB agents, refusing to sign confessions that would condemn the other person even at risk to his own life.

[ Spoiler Warning ] Their efforts are well rewarded, since the information they transported helped stop the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

Wynne initially dislikes the CIA and MI6, because they use fear tactics to manipulate him. However, when Penkovsky is in danger, both agencies help him attempt to extract his friend despite impossible odds.

Wynne’s wife, Sheila, grow suspicious of his constant visits to Russia and voices her concerns about his travels. She becomes increasingly suspicious of her husband’s poorly told lies about his activities. When Sheila later learns the truth, she apologizes to Wynne and asks for his forgiveness, which he gladly gives, relieved that she finally knows everything.

Spiritual Elements

Sexual & romantic content.

Several couples kiss. A married couple lays in bed while kissing passionately; it’s implied they have sex, as we later see them covered only by sheets. Several men drive past a strip club. A woman says her husband is “energetic” in bed. We see some ballet dancers in leotards and tights.

Sheila assumes that the reason her husband keeps traveling to Russia is because he is having an affair. And we later learn that he had an affair once before (thus her suspicion) but that she forgave him afterward.

While in prison, Wynne is forced to strip before a cavity search; we see him naked, covering his genitals with his hands (we also see his exposed backside).

Violent Content

A man with multiple bruises and lacerations on his face and body gets shot in the head (we see some blood splatter). We see another man in similarly bad shape later on and learn he was also executed. Several people, including a young girl, are roughly handled by KGB officers.

Wynne is removed from a plane by KGB officers before getting punched in the stomach and thrown in the back of a van. They take him to a Russian prison where he forced to strip and undergo a body cavity search. While there, he is further tortured: They deprive him of sleep and basic hygienic needs; shave his head; limit his food rations; force him to stay in a room with a broken window in the middle of winter without blankets; make him use a bucket on the floor as a toilet; and, when all else fails, physically beat him with batons, and we watch him become weak and emaciated as time goes on.

People talk about war, and world leaders make threats to bomb other countries. Someone tells Wynne that if Russia attacks the UK, his entire family will be destroyed before he has a chance to say goodbye.

Crude or Profane Language

We hear one use each of the f-word and s-word. We also hear four uses of “h—,” two of the British expletive “bloody” and one of “a–hole.” God’s name is also misused five times.

Drug & Alcohol Content

People drink and smoke throughout the film. Wynne states that drinking is his one true gift, and we see him and others drunk on several occasions. We also see people drinking heavily to handle stressful situations. Someone uses cigarettes to poison a man.

Other Noteworthy Elements

Despite working together, the CIA and MI6 don’t get along, frequently mocking each other and sometimes purposely making tasks more difficult for the other agency.

We also witness acts of espionage, which include lying and stealing. And while these acts of subterfuge are often used to extract information that could save millions of lives, they’re also used as weapons by the enemy. And although Wynne is told that he has to lie to his wife to protect her from the KGB, he expresses his discomfort since he lied to her in the past and hurt her with the deception.

A man yells at his son and calls him “dense” in frustration. Then he admits it had nothing to do with his son and apologizes, but his child is still hurt by his father’s harsh words.

A family is not allowed to say goodbye before the husband is carted off to prison for the remainder of his days. MI6 is reluctant to rescue someone working undercover because it would require giving up one of the agency’s own prisoners in exchange.

It may not seem as if two people would be enough to change the outcome of a global standoff. But over the course of their two-year friendship, Oleg Penkovsky and Greville Wynne clandestinely smuggled 5000 top-secret documents from Russia to England and the United States. And their actions were directly responsible for the hotline that now exists between the White House and the Kremlin to prevent nuclear war between Russia and the U.S.

And while this inspiring true story teaches us a lot about bravery and what it means to lay down your life for others, it also teaches us about the value of friendship.

On paper, Oleg and Greville shouldn’t have worked as friends. They were from different economic backgrounds, political mindsets and career fields. But when they put politics aside, they realized they weren’t actually all that different. Both men were patriots (albeit from warring countries) who simply didn’t want to see their families and friends, and millions of their countrymen perish because of a few angry political leaders.

This dramatic cold-war era spy thriller isn’t always the easiest film to watch. The sequence depicting one main character in a Russian prison is brutal. He’s beaten and starved half to death. And we also witness him in a particularly vulnerable situation when he is forced to remove his clothes and have his bodily cavities examined. There’s also some foul language, a reference to a man’s extramarital affair and lots of belligerent alcohol consumption.

Because Penkovsky and Wynne were willing to set aside the labels that separated them from each other and to look at the person beneath, their actions save millions of people from nuclear fallout. That said, many families won’t want to ignore some of the content labels we’ve listed here before watching.

Emily Tsiao

Emily studied film and writing when she was in college. And when she isn’t being way too competitive while playing board games, she enjoys food, sleep, and geeking out with her husband indulging in their “nerdoms,” which is the collective fan cultures of everything they love, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate and Lord of the Rings.

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The Courier: 3 lessons Christians can learn from Benedict Cumberbatch's new film

Benedict Cumberbatch’s new film  The Courier  is not just a Cold War thriller or an engaging personal story, says Krish Kandiah. It offers us a vision for friendship in the face of loneliness and provides a powerful metaphor of the Church’s role in our divided times

Source: Alamy

The Courier is set during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. As US President John F. Kennedy and Russia’s Premier Nikita Khrushchev brought the world to the brink of nuclear annihilation, destruction seemed so inevitable that churches filled up with men and women praying for the survival of the human race.

Benedict Cumberbatch plays one of history’s invisible heroes, Greville Wynne, an English businessman with a troubled marriage and no experience or appetite for espionage. His performance is matched for understated prowess by Georgian actor Merab Ninidze who plays Oleg Penkovsky, a senior Soviet apparatchik who is fearful of Khruschev’s warmongering. What starts out as a simple exchange of secret documents between two countries turns into something far more powerful. The genuine friendship that forms across ideological, cultural and safety lines ends up changing the world.

So what lessons can we, as Christians, take from their example?

1. Fight loneliness with friendship

As the Office of National Statistics reports a secondary pandemic of loneliness, many can attest to the fact that genuine friendships are in short supply. And in our polarised times, friendships that cross any sort of divide are even rarer. In this area, Christians often have the same struggles as the wider world. Despite knowing the life-changing power of the love of God, we still need and crave authentic human relationships. We still struggle to find and be good friends to others. We still fail to be good neighbours to those others consider outsiders and whom God calls us to love. Yet despite all the barriers – our own inhibitions, assumptions and prejudices, Covid lockdowns and restrictions, and various differences in culture and language, there is something powerful about genuine friendships. Cumberbatch’s performance does a brilliant job of demonstrating how loyalty and love can motivate us to do the right thing even at the hardest time – and see incredible things happen as a result.

Bringing the shalom of God to the world was Jesus’ primary calling

2. Love your enemies

If you spend too much time on Twitter, you might start to believe that Jesus called us not to love our enemies but to mock, belittle and insult them. It is hard to love other Christians, let alone our neighbours, strangers or those who persecute us. But Cumberbatch reminds us that it is possible. The friendship at the centre of this film is between two men from countries that were mortal enemies. The Cuban missile crisis brought the world to the edge of nuclear Armageddon and, yet, two friends from different sides of the conflict ended up changing history. As the film’s title suggests, Wynne was essentially a courier, secreting documents between the Soviet, British and American intelligence services. But more than that was being transported. The love, respect and trust that developed between these enemies challenges those of us whose relationships with others go little deeper than with the delivery drivers who come and go from our doorsteps. Inviting people into our homes, going out of our way to look out for the needs of others, welcoming those others would shun, building connections with people from all walks of life and loving our enemies must be part of our new normal.

3. Pursue Peace-making

We seem to reserve Jesus’ title “Prince of Peace” for Christmas only. But bringing the shalom of God to the world was Jesus’ primary calling. His birth brokered peace between poor Jewish shepherds and rich Gentile wise men. His death broke down the walls that separated sinners from God. The cross did not just cancel our sin, take the penalty for our transgressions and receive the wrath of God, it paved the way to our reconciliation with God. In in the sermon on the mount, Jesus makes this profound statement: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9). Making peace is the family business. Our world needed peacemakers when the Cuban missile crisis threatened to end it, and our world needs peacemakers now, too, as churches, political parties, races and groups divide, fracture and polarise.

Half-way through the film, the two protagonists are having dinner in the kitchen of Wynne’s modest home. They represent different sides of a divided world, but they talk about what they have in common. The Russian general says to the English businessman “Greville, we are only two people. But this is how things change.”

The Courier is much more than fabulously-acted Cold War thriller. It is a movie with lots of challenge for us as Christians. Can we step and be the peacemakers in our families, communities and nation at this time?

May we see opportunities today to serve the lonely, build bridges of friendship and be the peacemakers that our divided world needs right now.

The Courier is out now in cinemas: thecourier.movie

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Parents' guide to, the courier.

• Common Sense Says
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Common Sense Media Review

Intense Cold War thriller has courage, torture, smoking.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Courier is a fact-based British spy thriller set during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It has torture scenes, strong language, and smoking throughout. But it also celebrates the immense courage of two men -- Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze) --…

Why Age 13+?

Character is shot dead from point-blank range. Another collapses in their office

Language is infrequent, but includes a couple uses of "f--k" and words like "h-l

Characters drink and smoke cigarettes frequently. Drinking at business meetings,

Two characters kiss passionately. In the next scene, they're lying in bed, evide

Any Positive Content?

Courage, perseverance, and communication are all prominent themes, with characte

Both Greville Wynne and Oleg Penkovsky risk everything -- at great cost -- to tr

Parents need to know that The Courier is a fact-based British spy thriller set during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It has torture scenes, strong language, and smoking throughout. But it also celebrates the immense courage of two men -- Greville Wynne ( Benedict Cumberbatch ) and Oleg Penkovsky ( Merab Ninidze ) -- who work to save the world from nuclear war. Set in 1962, the movie depicts some sexist and misogynistic behavior. Men leer over their female colleagues, and wives are expected to cook and host when guests come over and to care for their children while their husbands are at work. Although he's the hero, Wynne is depicted as being flawed, with references to romantic affairs in his past. The movie's violence is quite shocking but never graphic and often more alluded to than depicted. Wynne is tortured with techniques such as a harsh bright light being shone on him all day. He becomes very thin, and there's a rough body-cavity exam upon his initial arrest. In one scene, he's beaten by a group of guards, with blood splattered on the wall. Other violent scenes include a man being shot in the head at close range and another being poisoned. There are mild sexual references and occasional strong language, including "f--k." Characters smoke and drink regularly throughout the movie, which is accurate for the time period.

To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Violence & Scariness

Character is shot dead from point-blank range. Another collapses in their office after being poisoned. A character is tortured in custody -- beaten with batons, with blood splattered on the wall. While imprisoned, the same character becomes very thin due to torture and a lack of care. Someone is stripped naked and bent over for a rough body cavity examination. The threat of a nuclear war looms throughout.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Language is infrequent, but includes a couple uses of "f--k" and words like "h-ll," "a--holes" and "bulls--t."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Characters drink and smoke cigarettes frequently. Drinking at business meetings, social events, and in bars. Some characters also drink alone at home. Characters smoke in restaurants. A character gives alcohol as a gift to a colleague.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Two characters kiss passionately. In the next scene, they're lying in bed, evidently nude under the covers and presumably after sex. When a character is having a shower, their bare behind is seen. Reference to past infidelity.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Courage, perseverance, and communication are all prominent themes, with characters going to extraordinary lengths to demonstrate these character strengths. There are also moments of compassion. But for every character trying to do good, there are countless others trying to foil them. The prospect of nuclear war is central to the story.

Positive Role Models

Both Greville Wynne and Oleg Penkovsky risk everything -- at great cost -- to try to prevent a war. The former even takes on a job purely on the grounds of compassion and wanting to save a friend, and not one he's required to do. Set in 1962, the society depicted is very male-dominated. Men are seen leering over a female colleague in the workplace. In addition, Wynne's wife is very much expected to cater for their guests and take care of their children. When Wynne's past is discussed, there's mention of infidelity.

Where to Watch

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Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (1)
• Kids say (4)

Based on 1 parent review

This movie is BRILLIANT

What's the story.

THE COURIER (also known as Ironbark ) tells the true story of Greville Wynne ( Benedict Cumberbatch ), a British businessman who was recruited by MI6 to become a Cold War spy. Sent to Russia to uncover some alarming truths about the Soviet nuclear program, Wynne begins working alongside their source, Oleg Penkovsky ( Merab Ninidze ), as they try to find enough intelligence to put a halt to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Is It Any Good?

An impressive second feature from director Dominic Cooke ( On Chesil Beach ), this Cold War spy thriller thrives in the intensity that so often derives from undercover-based narratives. The Courier also boasts a brilliant central performance by Cumberbatch, in one of his finest roles for some time. Jessie Buckley , who plays Wynne's wife, Sheila, also continues to mark her status as one of the most talented young performers around.

There is a pensive quality to this film, and perhaps it takes a little while to generate excitement and heat. But while it lacks the same dramatic punch that comes with films such as Argo , there is still enough unwavering suspense to keep the audience gripped throughout. The patient viewer will also be rewarded with a fantastic final act.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the Cold War setting of The Courier . What were the historical implications of this time period? Did you know about this part of history? Did you learn anything new? Would you like to know more? How to talk to kids about violence, crime, and war.

Both Wynne and Penkovsky demonstrate courage , perseverance , and communication . Why are these such important character strengths to have?

How was drinking and smoking depicted in the film? Were they glamorized? How has our behavior when it comes to drinking and smoking changed from when the movie was set?

There are several scenes involving torture. How did you feel watching these moments unfold? Discuss the idea of using torture to gain information. Is it ever justified? Why is it problematic?

Discuss the depiction of women in the movie. Sheila, Wynne's wife, is expected to fulfill certain duties, such as caring for their child, and cooking their meals. Were you surprised to see what was expected of women during this time period? Have things changed? If so, how?

Movie Details

• In theaters : March 19, 2021
• On DVD or streaming : April 16, 2021
• Cast : Benedict Cumberbatch , Merab Ninidze , Jessie Buckley
• Director : Dominic Cooke
• Inclusion Information : Female actors
• Studios : Lionsgate , Roadside Attractions
• Genre : Thriller
• Topics : History
• Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Perseverance
• Run time : 111 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : violence, partial nudity, brief strong language, and smoking throughout
• Last updated : August 28, 2022

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Movie Review: The Courier

In Articles , Culture , Music & Movies by Steven Sukkau July 8, 2021

The Courier is a gripping story of an ordinary man thrust into an unimaginable situation. It has a lot to say about sacrifice, courage and calling – things all men deeply desire in their lives.

Businessman Geville Wynne found himself neck-deep in espionage during one of the tensest eras of modern history: The Cuban Missile Crisis.

However, the reason he was ever involved was not because of a background in counterintelligence or the military field that might produce a James Bond lookalike, but rather because he was so far from the usual candidate.

Initially recruited because of his unassuming nature as an unwitting salesman, his life and career put him in the center of the Cold War as he ferried Soviet secrets to the West while going through the motions of seemingly innocuous business trips to Moscow.

However, when it becomes clear to his CIA and MI6 handlers that their Russian source, Oleg Penkovsky, has been discovered, Wynne convinces them to help him make one last deceptive business trip to help the doomed traitor defect to safety with his family.

The Power of Mission

What’s interesting here is the depiction of Wynne, a sort of everyman approaching middle age, out of shape and drinking a bit too much. When his government needs him, he even tries to dodge the phone call, telling his wife, “Tell them I’m already in my chair.”

I think most guys can relate. We work hard during the day, provide for our family, and just want to be left alone after we’ve clocked out.

This rut – this beaten down, subdued version of manhood – has its drawbacks, obviously, yet is probably too common.

However, when the mission begins to heat up, even his wife notices a change. Her husband begins exercising, he begins to pay more attention to her – there is a passion inside him again.

As a man watching The Courier , it’s easy to resonate with that deep desire for an important mission that requires our courage, calling, and sacrifice. Wynne’s life was comfortable as he played golf with clients, indulged in his favourite vices from time to time, and enjoyed the middle-class lifestyle. But that easiness led to an indiscretion that almost ended his marriage.

Viktor Frankl, a holocaust survivor and author of Man’s Search for Meaning , explains it best:

What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for a worthwhile goal, a freely chosen task. What he needs is not the discharge of tension at any cost but the call of a potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled by him.

Writer Benjamin Hardy notes that Frankl’s observation came from his time as a concentration camp prisoner, adding “the moment a person lost a sense of purpose for their life, the present became meaningless and their suffering became too unbearable for them to go on. We need a sense of purpose to survive.” 1

No matter how much we seek comfort and ease, we as men know deep down we’re called to something more. Even just reading about calling stirs something in a man’s soul, and we feel the tension between leaning in and pulling back.

No matter how much we seek comfort and ease, we as men know deep down we’re called to something more.

That’s what you see on film, as Wynne becomes more authentically himself when he takes on the responsibility of doing the right thing.

It’s this truth that his CIA handler voices when Wynne initially waffles on taking on the duplicitous business trips:

See, here’s the problem for you. Your house is a 12-minute drive from your office, ten minutes if you really push, right? And you’re usually out on a sales call anyway, so you’re not getting back to Sheila in time. And Andrew’s school, that’s nine minutes from your house, 15 from your office, and no one’s getting to him either. He’ll get herded into the school basement. I looked up the building plans. That’s a sorry excuse for a fallout shelter. Same with your basement, actually. Only the government has decent shelters. What do you do? Hmm? You can spend those four minutes trying to get Sheila on the phone, but you won’t be able to get through. Or you can think about how you might have helped stop this from happening… but you didn’t. And then, that’s it. 2

Wynne leaves, but his CIA handler predicts correctly, “He’ll do it.” 3

Wynne’s wife, too, comes to see her husband in a new light when she discovers his spy activities. At first, she doubts whether Wynne is faithful to her, and, being unable to tell her the full truth, their relationship suffers.

But when **SPOILER ALERT ** Wynne finds himself in a Russian prison under suspicion of espionage, Sheila Wynne steels herself for a long emotional battle to support her husband and be a source of strength while he endures an agonizing and uncertain future.

When The Call Comes, What Will You Do?

Courage, calling, and sacrifice bring out surprising qualities in Wynne, transform his marriage, and ultimately bring about the “potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled” 4 in the Wynne’s lives. And I think if we’re honest, this is what we all secretly long for, even as we fear it.

But as Hardy says, “If we stay in our comfort zone, we begin to shrivel inside.” 5

“If we stay in our comfort zone, we begin to shrivel inside.”

Happiness cannot be attained by wanting to be happy – it must come as an unintended consequence of working for a goal greater than oneself. -Viktor Frankl 6

I love this quote from Frankl and how it contrasts with our usual understanding of happiness.

As Christian men, we can often confuse our Sunday morning prescription of being a “good guy” with the radical calling, courage, and sacrifice Christ patterns for us.

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26

Sometimes we look around and wonder why our journey alongside Christ feels flat or uninspired. Perhaps it is because you’ve heard the call and yelled from the other room, “I’m already in my chair.” 7

But when the call comes – a mission that will require our courage and sacrifice – and you know what’s at stake, becoming your best self for your family and community, may it be that Christ will say knowingly about you: “He’ll do it.” 8

1 https://medium.com/@benjaminhardy/4-quotes-that-will-make-you-take-your-life-more-seriously-339cf6c71da1a 2 The Courier, movie dialogue 3 Ibidem 4 Ibidem 5 Ibidem 6 https://medium.com/@benjaminhardy/4-quotes-that-will-make-you-take-your-life-more-seriously-339cf6c71da1a 7 The Courier, movie dialogue 8 Ibidem

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Coram Deo ~

Looking at contemporary culture from a christian worldview.

My Review of THE COURIER

May 5, 2021 by Bill Pence Leave a comment

This excellent film, based on true events, features a strong acting performance from Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch ( The Imitation Game ) as Greville Wynne, a British salesman who was asked to help his country and the U.S. by obtaining secrets from a willing Soviet Union accomplice during the Cold War in the time leading up to what would become known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. The film is directed by Dominic Cooke, and written by Tom O’Connor ( The Hitman’s Bodyguard ). In 1960, Wynne, an ordinary salesman, is contacted by MI6 Agent Dick Franks, played by Angus Wright ( The Iron Lady ), and CIA Agent Emily Donovan, played by two-time Golden Globe winner Rachel Brosnahan ( The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel ), to be a spy. Under the guise of doing business in Moscow, Wynne is to obtain intelligence about a nuclear missile attack that’s being plotted from Oleg Penkovsky, a colonel in GRU, the main intelligence agency of the Soviet Union. Penkovsky, played by Merab Ninidze, is concerned about a possible nuclear war and also wants to defect from the Soviet Union.

Wynne realizes that this is very dangerous, but he agrees to the mission. We see him introduce himself in a meeting of business people, including Penkovsky, saying that he is there to open a door to the top manufacturers in the West. Under these dangerous conditions, Wynne makes several trips to Moscow and begins a friendship with Penkovsky, including going to the ballet. They both want to do everything possible to prevent the nuclear weapon attack. Wynne also wants to do what he can to help Penkovsky and his family to defect. Of course, Wynne cannot share with his wife Sheila, played by Jessica Buckley, what he’s really doing in Moscow. She begins seeing changes in him. He is more concerned about physical fitness than he’s ever been, and is more aggressive in bed. She believes that he is having an affair, as he did once before. She asks him to stop going to Moscow. The film is rated PG-13 for some brief adult language, a brief bedroom scene (nothing is shown), and male nudity that is not portrayed in a sexual manner. Themes in the film include espionage, danger, sacrifice, friendship and marriage. The Courier is a well-made film based on true events, that features a good cast. The film is driven by the acting performances of its two lead characters. I’d recommend this film for ages 16 and above.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbR1A95Ll8Q

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Author: Bill Pence

I’m Bill Pence – married to my best friend Tammy, a graduate of Covenant Seminary, St. Louis Cardinals fan, formerly a manager at a Fortune 50 organization, and in leadership at my local church. I am a life-long learner and have a passion to help people develop, and to use their strengths to their fullest potential. I am an INTJ on Myers-Briggs, 3 on the Enneagram, my top five Strengthsfinder themes are: Belief, Responsibility, Learner, Harmony, and Achiever, and my two StandOut strength roles are Creator and Equalizer. My favorite book is the Bible, with Romans my favorite book of the Bible, and Colossians 3:23 and 2 Corinthians 5:21 being my favorite verses. Some of my other favorite books are The Holiness of God and Chosen by God by R.C. Sproul, and Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper. I enjoy music in a variety of genres, including modern hymns, Christian hip-hop and classic rock. My book Called to Lead: Living and Leading for Jesus in the Workplace and Tammy’s book Study, Savor and Share Scripture: Becoming What We Behold are available in paperback and Kindle editions on Amazon. amazon.com/author/billpence amazon.com/author/tammypence

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The Courier

"The Courier" will evoke memories of prior spy movies and the tropes they often employ. More specifically, you may be reminded of the superior Cold War-era spy-swapping 2015 film, " Bridge of Spies ." Both films are based on real events and have Russian spies, imprisoned agents, and a swap between Russia and the West. Here, however, the swap is not an integral part of the main story, and the Russian spy is working for MI6 and the CIA. As in Spielberg's film, this is a meditation on the individual cost of doing something not for personal gain but for the common good. There's a whole set of cinematic clichés that come with stories like that, and adding them to this mix risks overcrowding. But cliché is not a bad thing if it's done right, especially if they involve characters to root for and a fair amount of high stakes to overcome.

Director Dominic Cooke and screenwriter Tom O'Connor tell the "based on true events" story of Greville Wynne ( Benedict Cumberbatch ). Wynne was a British businessman who, from 1960 and 1962, smuggled thousands of pieces of intel out of Russia before he was captured, imprisoned, and tortured for two years by the KGB. Assisting him in his role as "courier" is Oleg Penkovsky ( Merab Ninidze ), a far more experienced Russian agent. Wynne's role as a salesman who works his magic on Eastern European clients makes him a good smuggler; as a Brit, he's assumed to be a purely capitalist creature whose only concern is money. Couple that with his superb talent for schmoozing and boozing with customers, and he emerges as someone who's neither suspicious nor a potential danger to Soviet security.

Wynne is surprised to be recruited by MI6's Dickie Franks ( Angus Wright ) who, along with CIA agent Emily Donovan ( Rachel Brosnahan ), convinces him to meet with Penkovsky, because any intel will help President Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. She assures him he'll be safe. Initially, Wynne turns them down because the entire idea seems incredulous. He has no formal training. Plus, he's a family man with a precocious young son, Andrew (Keir Hills) and a loving, forgiving wife, Sheila ( Jessie Buckley ). Sheila's pardoning nature revealed itself after Wynne took those dirty jokes about traveling salesmen to heart. Sudden trips to Moscow, frequent trips he can't tell his wife about in any regard, are bound to arouse her suspicions about new infidelities.

"The Courier" makes the connection that Wynne's job of "making the clients happy" has the same thespian qualities of being a spy: He is playing a role, one that requires him to hide his true feelings and present a specific, carefully calibrated, unflappable front. Penkovsky reassures him that he's handling the job well. As the two family men spend more time together, their guards lower and the two become close friends. Cumberbatch and Ninidze do a very good job conveying their newfound bond, which helps the viewer swallow the unbelievable decision that sets the second half of the film in motion.

The first hour, which focuses on the existing and budding human relationships in England and in Russia, plays better than the prison-bound second hour. There's a sweet, realistic dynamic between Sheila and Greville. Buckley gives an excellent performance that carries her over to the predictable moment when she has to pivot to the strong spouse cautiously awaiting the return of her husband. Of course, she's convinced Greville is cheating when she catches him exercising more than he's ever done, not to mention that he's trying new things he's never considered before in bed. Buckley handles this with the right touch of bemusement and forcefulness, warning that she won't be so understanding if there's another woman. Her best scene is when she realizes the true nature of her husband's secrecy, and how she may never have the chance to tell him she's sorry for not trusting him

We also spend time with Penkovsky and his wife and daughter. Their scenes are just as loving as the Wynnes', but they're tinged with more danger. Penkovsky is a decorated former soldier with many security clearances, and as he tells Wynne, everyone in Russia has eyeballs that surveil for the state. One can easily predict that Penkovsky's espionage work will catch up with him, but it's a bumpier road to believing that Wynne would risk life and limb to go back in to try and help him defect. Once he's captured, "The Courier" loses steam as it isolates its main character for violent prison scenes that we've seen endless times before. Those sequences culminate in a jail cell reunion between Penkovsky and Wynne that's memorable because it wears its empathy like a sentimental badge of honor.

Though there's nothing new or transformative here, "The Courier" stays afloat due to the acting by Buckley, Cumberbatch, and Ninidze. Unfortunately, Brosnahan's performance is flat. Her character feels completely out of place here, as if Donovan were thrown in to inject an American into a very British story. Her one big scene, where she tries to terrify Wynne by describing the four minutes he'd have if a nuke were heading for London, is unconvincing and doesn't have the reverse psychology effect the film thinks it does. I was a bit surprised that "The Courier" worked for me as well as it did, and I must give some credit to Sean Bobbitt 's moody cinematography and Abel Korzeniowski 's engaging score. Their work gave the illusion that this film could have been made in the timeframe it is set. That sealed the deal for me.

Odie Henderson

Odie "Odienator" Henderson has spent over 33 years working in Information Technology. He runs the blogs Big Media Vandalism and Tales of Odienary Madness. Read his answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire  here .

• Benedict Cumberbatch as Greville Wynne
• Merab Ninidze as Oleg Penkovsky
• Rachel Brosnahan as Emily Donovan
• Jessie Buckley as Sheila Wynne
• Angus Wright as Dickie Franks
• Kirill Pirogov as Gribanov
• Abel Korzeniowski
• Dominic Cooke
• Gareth C. Scales
• Tariq Anwar

Cinematographer

• Sean Bobbitt
• Tom O'Connor

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Movie Review: The Courier (2020)

• Vincent Gaine
• Movie Reviews
• --> October 23, 2021

The 1960s. A time of new fashions, innovative music and escalating tensions. In both glamorous opera houses and drab subways, business opportunities intermingled with the Cold War. As world leaders like John F. Kennedy and Nikita Krushchev made grand speeches that could promise destruction or peace, depending on the mood of the time, the covert activities of spies went on, activities that involved both government agents and civilians. If that seems surprising, remember that truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, and The Courier indeed sounds like a novel by John Le Carré or Len Deighton. Yet director Dominic Cooke and writer Tom O’Connor’s film is a based-on-actual-events tale of businessman Greville Wynne, recruited by MI6 and the CIA to smuggle secret Soviet information out of Moscow.

As with any based-on-a-true-story, the film is fictionalized for the purposes of narrative — any research into actual spy activities will reveal that espionage is a much messier process than any story. Not that fidelity to documented records stops a film being effective, as The Courier is a superbly crafted tale of geopolitical tensions, spy craft and suspense. The first act covers Greville’s (Benedict Cumberbatch, “ Black Mass ”) initiation into the “great game,” learning the trade from agents Dickie Franks (Angus Wright, “ Official Secrets ”) and Emily Donovan (Rachel Brosnahan, “ Patriots Day ”) while making contact with Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze, “ My Happy Family ”). From here, events become more tense as Oleg fears discovery and the world moves towards the Cuban Missile Crisis. In the third act, the film takes a swerve into something more melancholy, and Cumberbatch also undergoes a shift. Throughout the film the actor is on reliable form as Greville, combining the well-mannered gentleman with a sense of arrogance and entitlement, much as he did in “ Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy ,” “ The Imitation Game ” and “ Doctor Strange .” He’s arguably not pushing himself, but his transition from confident albeit amateur spy to desperate victim is palatable, and a physical transformation makes the film all the more moving.

Despite the focus on Greville, this is a film very much about relationships. The marriage of Greville and his wife Sheila (Jesse Buckley, “Chernobyl” TV series) is strained despite evident devotion, while their son Andrew (Keir Hills) offers a more innocent perspective on the wider events. The professional spies have their own professional relationships with Greville and with each other, and the not-always amicable association between the agencies serves as an effective backdrop. Differing goals of gathering usable intelligence, maintaining peace and keeping their assets safe mean that Dickie and especially Emily often appear at the intersection of these goals, with the camera holding on their faces as they attempt to argue for humanity in the face of political expediency.

The most significant relationship, however, is that between Greville and Oleg, or Alex as he asks to be called. “Alex” is compelled by conscience to share information with the West, a conscience expressed in a powerful opening shot as the camera pans from the almost parodic monstrous figure of Krushchev (Vladimir Chuprikov, “Diplomatic Situation” TV series) to Oleg’s grim expression. Ninidze’s performance is an impressive piece of understatement, his eyes expressing volumes while his mouth remains firm, giving the British a run for their money in the stiff upper lip stakes. Between this man of conscience and compassion and Greville the rather bumbling but good-natured soul, a touching relationship grows that allows the film to explore the interplay of the interpersonal and the geopolitical. These two men, and their families, are impacted by the decisions of their government but also have impact themselves. The Cuban Missile Crisis underlines the role that these men play, unsung heroes operating in the shadows at significant personal risk. As the viewer sees this genuine friendship develop, we care for them and share their wish for peace, while also fearing for them as danger and violence stalk ever closer.

The film’s interweaving of the public and personal creates a strong resonance between this story and our contemporary times. The period detail is exquisite, from the costumes to the sets and the props, especially the various briefcases. Despite this, the film never feels quaint or old-fashioned. It is often tempting to look at films set during the Cold War such as “ Bridge of Spies ” and “Red Joan” as being nostalgic or at least dealing with something that is over and done with. However, any glance at major news stories of recent years will highlight that while the tensions between nations change, they do not end. Political aggression and severe intolerance continue to plague the world over, and it can feel like we have no influence over these threats. A story like The Courier serves to dramatize unknown people and exploits, and in doing so reminds the viewer that conscience and individual action can have an impact on wider events. While we are never as separate as we might like to imagine, a film like this reminds us to hold onto our interpersonal relationships, which might just end up making a wider difference.

Tagged: Cold War , espionage , MI6 , politics , Russia , true story

Dr. Vincent M. Gaine is a film and television researcher. His first book, Existentialism and Social Engagement in the Films of Michael Mann was published by Palgrave MacMillan in 2011. His work on film and media has been published in Cinema Journal and The Journal of Technology , Theology and Religion , as well as edited collections including The 21st Century Superhero and The Directory of World Cinema .

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