Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
It’s needless to say that Steven Spielberg is a genius. He moved viewers to tears with films like Saving Private Ryan, Amistad and Empire of the Sun. He covered the horrors of terrorism in dramas such as Munich and even thrilled and delighted with action-packed sequences in Jurassic Park.
It’s as though everything the 69-year-old award winning director, producer and screenwriter touches turns to gold. His magic continues in the Bridge of Spies which is based on the true story of an incredible spy exchange between the US and the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War.
It’s a dark time in the US where children are taught to take cover in case of nuclear fallout while adults stay on high alert for a Russian spy.
Spielberg’s clever colouring and lighting changes, dramatic cinematography and costume designs transports viewers back in time. For example, the colour palette differs between the US and Germany. The US’s colour scheme is warm and earthy while the minute Spielberg moves the setting to Germany, it is dreary and washed out to depict the city’s ruins and despair.
By adding touches of realism to an already remarkable part of history, Spielberg keeps the viewer intrigued and yearning to learn more. Now throw the lovable and brilliant Tom Hanks into the mix and you’ve got yourself a golden Oscar.
Hanks plays James Donovan, a New York City lawyer who worked for the International Military Tribunal at the end of the Second World War. His quick wit, charming demeanour, big heart and strong moral ethics made him one of the most talked about and wanted men in American history.
His claim to political fame is when the Brooklyn Bar Association asked him to defend Soviet spy Rudolf Abel in an espionage trial. His first thoughts were, ‘you can’t be serious and why me?’ He knew he would be the most hated man in the US for simply sitting next to old Abel (Rylance). But it was his civil duty and as a lawyer, who fought for justice, he could not say no and turned out to be one of the biggest cases of his life.
The movie starts off in dramatic silence with just an old man focused on painting a portrait of himself while looking in a mirror. This already paints a picture of his character so to speak. From the get go, Abel is quiet and calm.
Even when FBI agents break in his door to arrest him on three counts of espionage, Abel remains unruffled. In fact, while standing in his bathroom door in nothing but his tighty whitey, Abel welcomes the gentlemen in knowing all too well that he has been found.
There is something Spielberg doesn’t tell you that you can read in Donovan’s recently re-released memoir, Strangers on a Bridge. In 1952, Abel was assigned an incompetent assistant called Reino Hayhanen. Due to Hayhanen’s bad behaviour, he was told to return to the Soviet Union. Fearing he would be punished, Hayhanen seeks asylum at the US Embassy in Paris, ratting out Abel to the FBI.
Anyway, back to the movie. After Abel refused to co-operate with the American government, he was indicted on espionage charges and needed a lawyer.
When Donovan was asked to defend him, it was clear that it was just for show and not to be taken seriously. But Donovan made it his mission to help this man. His wife was against this judicial union but her pleas were in vain. One of my favourite parts is when Donovan asks Abel if he was worried and Abel coolly responds: “Would it help?” This question is asked throughout which brings a bit of humour to the tense atmosphere surrounding the trial and the possible death sentence that was going to be handed down to Abel. Their facial expressions were priceless.
Donovan puts up a good fight and convinces the judge to send Abel to prison. He managed to keep Abel alive by suggesting that he could be useful in the off chance that one of their soldiers gets caught and a trade is needed.
Donovan’s logic and silver tongue won him a friend in Abel. But, while their friendship flourished, his social life suffered. People glared at him on the bus and made death threats towards him and his family.
As feared, pilot Francis Gary Powers (Stowell) and his U-2 spy plane was shot down on May 1, 1960, over the Soviet Union. Soviet officials tried him for espionage and he received a 10-year sentence.
The US started talks about swapping Abel for Powers and asked Donovan to negotiate it in East Berlin.
Powers was the priority, but there was also an American student being held in custody that needed help. Frederic Pryor was facing trial in East Germany for spying. Donovan was told that if anything went wrong during the negotiations, he would be on his own.
Still, he decided to take his chances and without even telling his family, headed to Europe to discuss the exchange. Although Donovan was in for a bumpy ride, his confidence made him a force to reckon with.
Hanks’ warmth and sincerity made us love Donovan even more. His friendship and concern over Abel was genuine. In fact, that’s the best way to describe this film – genuine. It’s obvious a lot of time and research went into the making of this movie. While it may have seemed a little slow at times, it is not your ordinary spy movie and a definite must-see.
Showing at Cineco
Rating: 4/5
