Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Synopsis: It is the height of the Cold War in 1970s Britain, and tension reigns in MI6. Having been forced into retirement by his involvement in a covert operation-gone-wrong, George Smiley (Gary Oldman) is called back into Her Majesty’s secret service to help discover the Soviet mole who has reputedly been there for decades. But which of the deceptively loyal men has betrayed their country? This special task will not only put Smiley, his friendships, and loyalties to the test, it will put himself and others’ lives at risk.

In an era when even words like ‘Glasnost’ would not be recognised by the under-25s, I wondered who would want to see a film about the Cold War period, especially one with a daggy-looking guy as the ‘hero’? Most who will see Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, will deservedly do so for the excellent cast, starting with Gary Oldman, one of my favourite bad guys. Here, however, he is the ultra-mild man of quiet spy action, John le Carré’s Smiley. Excellent support is given by Colin Firth, John Hurt, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds and Benedict Cumberbatch.

This tale is true to its Cold War setting, with meticulous attention to details in the production design. The whole colour palette seems based on that practical British material, beige tweed, reflecting the nature of the Cold War warriors who quietly go about their business, while blending in with their surroundings. The interiors where the action takes place are for the most part dry, dusty-looking places, a dessicated, male-dominated environment into which the light rarely shines.

A common theme of le Carré’s novels and films is the examination of the type of person drawn to this clandestine life in the first place. I can’t recall any of his stories where there have been so many social misfits who find a kind of sanctuary in a world where relationships are limited, and it is only the odd one out actively chooses to seek out a wife and family: “I don’t want to end up like you lot!” says dirty job specialist Ricki Tarr (Tom Hardy).

Watching Smiley as he quietly and doggedly tracks down the mole is an examination of British character much as the story is rather an intellectual and civilised boys’ own adventure for gentlemen. In between the occasional dirty job, that is. I also noticed a strong gay subtext; women feature only marginally, and the one with the largest role, Kathy Burke (as aging former office assistant Connie Sachs) complains of being seriously under-f****d. The whole film is sufficiently ambiguous that you are not sure if any or all of the half dozen main characters are secretly gay or bisexual. Is Bill Haydon (Firth) in love with loner Jim Prideaux (Mark Strong)? Is that why Bill is able to have a casual affair with a married woman, with no apparent sense of guilt?

The tension builds slowly over the duration and holds to the end of this well-paced spy thriller, confidently directed by Alfredson. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy won’t be a film for those who need an action fix, but will appeal to those who remember the era, those who admire British resilience, and those who like serious mental stimulation at the movies.

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