Enigma

Based on R2 DVD by EuroVideo 98 min

Direction and editing could be better as the story is occasionally confusing for no good reason, lacks tension and the ending is very abrupt. The DVD is in 4:3.

All that aside, both stars [looking very young indeed] turn in respectable performances and the locations look authentic.

6/10 a little generous but worth watching on TV

I must admit, when I first began watching this film I had no clue what was going on. So the beginning was a bit confusing for me. However, that did not diminish my enjoyment of the movie. The characters reveal themselves to be more complex than they may first appear, and that is what makes this a memorable film. At first I heard this was a real "Hollywood" movie. Although it obviously lacks the stereotypical "guns and fists" element, the convincing performances of talented actors such as Martin Sheen and Sam Neill more than make up for it. I'd rather see a film with more substance than shooting any day.

This was the film that first indicated to me what a great actor Martin Sheen really is. He modestly claims that Charlie is a better actor, Charlie can't hold a candle to him.

I found it suspenseful and thoroughly enjoyed the intertwining of the love story with the main plot (and I usually HATE love stories). There's a great plot twist at the end that struck me as being fully credible, particularly in the early 80's time period, and probably now also.

The final scene had me on the edge of my seat. This film roundly illustrates that treachery is often doled out by those we trust, while declared enemies have more in common than they suspect, and finally, that human compassion can be found where we least expect it.

irenerose

Martin Sheen is the hero and Sam Neill is the villain, the cowboy and the cossack. Who will win this spying game in East Berlin behind the wall of the Cold War, all filmed in Lille and Strasbourg apart from some scenes in Paris? The story is very contrived and improbable, as if the whole idea of the film was to make it as enigmatic and mysterious as possible, as no one could possible get the hang of all these constructed technical details of early computer technique, while at least there is a woman who makes this muddled hide-and-seek story human, by adding some romanticism in spite of all this Cold War dreariness. Sam Neill actually wins the prize as the better actor, and his character is more interesting and human, while Martin Sheen is just efficient. Derek Jacobi plays third fiddle and is lost in the general confusion of occupation of embassies, fires in the cultural centre and total rebellion and uproar in a mental hospital, which is the most impressive scene of the film. Brigitte Fossey is lovely and delicate and does what she has to do, and she loves them both, and both deserve it.

A good cast in a strange little Cold War thriller. Though shot entirely in France, it gives a credibly chilly impression of East Berlin. Makes you want to turn up the heating (wildly extravagant these days, of course).

The plot is convincingly cynical, and the love triangle at its heart is persuasive - largely because it sidesteps cliché, especially at the film's ending.

Brigitte Fossey and Sam Neill work well together and while Martin Sheen seems less sure, his characteristic bafflement actually suit his character quite well.

Worth watching as a period-piece. And as an exercise in stargazing (Jacobi, Frank Finlay, Warren Clarke, Michael Lonsdale).

Seemingly based on a 'true story' - Whatever that means...