Director: Jens Jonsson
Writer: Harald Rosenlow-Eeg, Jan Trygve Royneland (Screenplay)
Starring: Ingrid Bolso Berdal, Rolf Lassgard, Damien Chapelle, Alexander Scheer, Erik Hivju, Edvin Endre
Plot: Sonja Wigert is a diva and star in Stockholm when WW2 breaks out, rapidly getting attention from the Nazi officer Josef Terboven. She’s then recruited by Swedish intelligence as a spy, but Terboven makes her spy on the Swedes.
Runtime: 1 Hour 50 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict: Spy Thriller 101
Story: The Spy starts as we see entertainer Sonja Wigert (Berdal) wow the crowds in Sweden, she has drawn the attention of new Nazi leader of the country Josef Terboven (Scheer). As it becomes clear the Andor Gellert (Chapelle) would like to keep Sonja around, the Swedish intelligence turn to her to start spying on him, giving them crucial information during the war.
As Sonja gets closer to Josef, she meets Hungarian officer Andor, she starts to find herself being torn between finding the secrets, giving away secret or just being with a man that she loves.
Thoughts on The Spy
Characters – Sonja Wigert is a star of the stage, a diva that turned heads across Scandinavia, performing in Sweden she grabs the attention on a Nazi leader and is drawn into getting close to him in an attempt to get information for the intelligence in Sweden, she is left in the middle of wanting to help the people or the feelings she is having for a man that is considered the enemy. Andor Gellert is the Nazi solider placed into a position of power in Sweden, he falls for Sonja, proving to her that not every Nazi is as evil as the stories have been made out. We od have the Swedish handler, trying to keep Sonja on the right path when it comes to learning the truth and collecting information.
Performances – Ingrid Bolso Berdal is great in the leading role, she brings the presence to the stage, the insecurity off the stage and what it means to show falling in love. Damien Chapelle is strong too, which is what we will see from the whole cast in this film.
Story – The story here follows a star and diva that is drawn into the world of espionage during World War II as she is forced to spy on the Nazis, while falling in love with her mark and being left in a position of not knowing which side to help out the most. When it comes to seeing what people have achieved in history, this will give another glimpse into the life on one of those people. The idea we watch Sonja getting caught up in the middle of what she wants to do or what she is expected to do, does come through strongly through the film.
Biopic/War – The biopic side of the film shows what Sonja did during the war, it shows what she was forced into, risked and changed over the time.
Settings – The film uses the settings to show the different environments that Sonja finds herself in, with it in the entertainment world and the shady underworld.
Scene of the Movie – The time away.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – We don’t seem to see many secrets exchanged.
Final Thoughts –This is a romantic thriller that shows how somebody can be drawn into the world without knowing where to stand in the middle of the war.
Overall: Wartime thriller 101
Signature Entertainment release The Spy on DVD and Digital HD 29th June
