Red Joan product reviews

Red Joan is a British period spy drama, based on the real life of Melita Norwood, a KGB spy who was not discovered until she was in her 80's. The film is directed by Trevor Nunn and stars Dame Judi Dench and Sophie Cookson as Joan Stanley (a substitute name for Melita Norwood).

The film is non-linear starting at the point that Joan (Dame Judi Dench) is arrested by MI5 detectives, and frequently flashing back to memories of her younger self (played by Sophie Cookson) as she attempts to explain her involvement with the KGB. It is an odd choice thematically, as it goes against the expectations of the audience as to how this film would go. When one imagines World War II, the consequential Cold War, and spies trying to gain intelligence in foreign countries, treason and bombs, you are almost always going to expect an action-packed thriller; instead, we have a sedated, romantic drama.

The theme of sexism is frequently brought to the attention of the audience, with some occasional tactless dialogue, but more often with sadly humourous behaviours that are a reminder of how little the world has really changed since then. Sophie Cookson is incredibly charismatic on screen and captures your attention with every movement. With the camera often focused up close on her face, much of the film relies on her facial performance. Yet, the strength of her character and justifications feel undermined by the romantic urges that lead her astray on several occasions.

The film only really works if the audience believes that the world is in danger, but that idea is never truly felt. Red Joan seems adamant that anyone with communist sympathies must be portrayed in a negative light, with no basis for their justifications. But without a real threat, without high stakes, the film is weak and uninteresting.

There is a nice contrast between Dame Judi Dench's frail, ailing granny, and Sophie Cookson's confident and proud youthfulness. It all keeps calling the direction of the film into question; with some rather distracting transitions between timelines, the modern-day arc is largely surplus and unnecessary. A linear timeline would have built up the tension to a higher degree and brought more engagement in the characters.

Red Joan is incredibly slow and doesn't build really towards anything. There is no real sense of how high the stakes are, and Joan's justifications lack any conviction. The real focus of the film is not on the protagonist's treason, or her wanting to save the world. This is a film about a woman searching for love, who ends up torn between two men on different sides of a war. If you want a spy thriller, you will be very disappointed. If you want a slow-burning love triangle in a scientific world war setting, then this will be worth a watch.