A Call to Spy fascinating ode to the heroes of WWII

What: Star – writer - producer Sarah Megan Thomas A Call to Spy is a rare story of extraordinary courage – the "lady spies" recruited into England's Special Operations Executive (SOE) during WWII.

A Call to Spy movie synopsis

Inspired by the true stories of three women who worked as spies in Churchill's Secret Army. A Call to Spy is a historical drama thriller centered on the beginning of WWII, with Britain becoming desperate, Churchill orders his new spy agency—the Special Operations Executive (SOE)—to recruit and train women as spies. Their daunting mission: conduct sabotage and build a resistance. SOE's "lady spy," Vera Atkins (Stana Katic), recruits two unusual candidates: Virginia Hall (Sarah Megan Thomas), an ambitious American with a wooden leg, and Noor Inayat Khan (Radhika Apte), an Indian Muslim pacifist. Together, these women help to undermine the Nazi regime in France, leaving an unmistakable legacy in their wake.

A Call to Spy movie review

The biggest USP of A Call to Spy is that the writer, the star and the producer Sarah Megan Thomas and her director Lydia Dean Pilcher is that the spies are not finely trained army personnel or top agents nor those female fatale types.

These are ordinary women who find extra courage during a challenge; they are human, frightened and very alone in those deadly conditions.

This makes the tribute ‘real’ and the history adds to the sweeping emotional connect.

The real life Virginia Hall - an American recruited into the SOE struggled to get a job as a diplomat and got rejected repeated times because of her prosthetic leg.

Noor Inayat Khan the gifted wireless operator born of Indian and Russian parents is driven by her resolve. Noor battles her way in very difficult conditions to find safe houses to send the messages knowing that at any moment the signals would be picked by the German radar.

While Vera in England is fighting her own battle with her adopted country. Her loyalties often get questioned due to her status as an immigrant (hear some bells ringing..).

Thomas in her screenplay is completely focused and it is learnt that the actor, writer, producer has gone through diligent research for penning this thoroughly engrossing screenplay based on real incidents.

Performances

The cast excels and is successful in making the audience invested throughout.

Sarah Megan Thomas as Virginia, a gutsy young woman who has a good command over French is incredible.

Radhika Apte as Noor Inayat Khan - born of Indian and Russian parents is elegantly pious having that rare mix of subtle intensity and fear but the gifted wireless operator is driven by her resolve to help and be part of the change.

Stana Katic as Vera Atkins is a picture of grace redefined in an effortless performance.

Linus Roache as Maurice Buckmaster is remarkable.

Rossif Sutherland as Dr. Chevain leaves an impression.

Samuel Roukin as Christopher is fantastic. Andrew Richardson as Alfonse is quite good.

Laila Robins is competent.

Marc Rissmann as Klaus Barbie makes a good impact.

Technicalities

Decent production values enhanced by Paul Tothill’s quality editing that provides equal footage to all the three women and balancing it perfectly in the to and fro format. Lillie Rebecca McDonough’s musical score is atmospheric. Cinematographer Robby Baumgartner creates the nostalgic feel of the era. More particularly when the camera focuses on Stana Katic, France (which is Philadelphia), the Nazi soldiers, the train and on Thomas.

Any memorable dialogue/scene

Get used to lady spies

Scene that should have been deleted at once

None

Flaws

Those looking for a high adrenaline action pack pulse riser will be disappointed. At vital places the script compromises and indulges in pure escapisms that fails to work  – Thomas escape by taking the snowy mountain route for example.

Final words

A Call to Spy is a story of extraordinary valor that enhances the incredible league of anti war/Nazi movies with the grace and elegance of these lady spies. Certainly a story that should be told and preserved.