The Impossible Spy

This is an amazing true story about one of history's greatest spies. And, I love this new Janson Media DVD of "The Impossible Spy" because it includes many important "extras" such as critic's reviews, trailer, and an on-location report featuring behind-the- scenes interviews with the stars, John Shea and Eli Wallach, about what it is like to be a spy. Also, there's a very good photo gallery, star information, and a time-line of all the major Arab- Israel conflicts that led up to Elie Cohen's incredible mission, and how vital it was for the outcome of the June 1967 Six-Day War.

The story is exciting and compelling. It's about an Israeli agent who was sent to Syria, via Argentina, in the 1960's and was so successful in infiltrating the Syrian High Command, that he was nominated to be their Deputy Defense Minister--and 3rd in line for the Presidency. Unbelievable. And, all true.

The Impossible Spy is a BBC co-production and was deemed to be controversial at the time of its showing.

John Shea plays Eli Cohen who infiltrates the Syrian government and manages to acquire secrets and military intelligence which eventually allows Israel to win the Six Days War and take over The Golan Heights.

Eli Wallach plays the Mossad handler. Both leads are earnest and for a BBC TV film very different from its usual subject matter.

It can be seen to be slow and slightly heavy going. It is of course rather one sided hence the controversy as it was seen to have had an Israeli bias.

It's strange that other foreign movies, much worst, are given the best marks

I found this movie very moving, and well documented. Indeed, it is a documentary.

Even on films, bias against Israel is obvious. I saw marks as high as 8.1 and 5 are given to horrible french movies, which are the worst in the film industry. French, besides naked and "object" women, have no imagination, and still they are given the best marks. Incredible.

The story of this Israeli spy is very informative of at which length would Israelis go to protect their citizens against vicious attacks from the neighboring Arabs. This movie renders with utmost reality the talent exercised by this Israeli spy to hiding his activities to his wife and whole family.

And his whole life as a spy is incredible because he didn't chose to be a spy and it was not his trade at all. That shows the love Israelis have for their tiny country due to the fact they endanger their own lives and the lives of their families, without a thought, to help their country. I believe this movie is very well directed and played, especially when we consider the size and the date of Israel's creation: 1948. There was nothing but sand and desert.

My marks for this movie is 8.5

It stands to reason that in the 1960s, leading up to the six-day war that pitted Israel against its Arab neighbors, technology was still rather basic, to the extent that communications were made by Morse, much as had been done in the Second World War, some 20 years before.

In light of that, it is not beyond reason to accept that an Israeli born in Syria could pass for a Syrian Arab, and so infiltrate El Fattah, among other splinter groups vying for power in Syria, thereby obtaining information to help Israeli defense. I found it tougher to swallow that this spy would promptly find a very senior military figure among the Syrian rebel forces vying to topple the government. Even tougher to believe that he would become his chum without attracting any suspicions.

Just as Eli Cohen was picked by Mossad because he did not look like a spy and had a low profile life, so he makes it as a smartly dressed businessman who somehow ingratiates his way to learning a great deal about the array and position of Syrian forces ready to attack Israeli kibbutzin.

Acting is strictly standard and less, only Eli Wallach catches your eye. Cohen's good looking wife, long suffering over hubby's lengthy absences, looks too amateurish.

Anyway, nothing much happens by way of action. 5/10.

One who is not interested in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, sympathetic to the Israeli cause, and inspired by Eli Cohen's sacrifice for that cause, will probably find this movie boring. One comes away from watching this movie, not thinking about what a great movie he just watched, but about the life of Eli Cohen. And perhaps that's what the filmmakers intended.

I can't think of anything particularly good to say about the movie. It is somewhat slow-paced, and no performances particularly stand out. But I find myself going back and watching it again and again, because the story it tells is so interesting to me. While the acting and production do not draw attention to themselves with their impressiveness, neither do they distract from the story due to poor quality; everything about the movie is unspectacular but competent.

The only complaint I can make is about the portrayal of Cohen's wife. She comes across so annoyingly that in the end, after her husband's death, when she encounters the Mossad official who lied to her repeatedly, took her husband away and sent him on the mission that resulted in his death, one finds oneself sympathizing with the spy-master because of the awkwardness of the situation, rather than with the aggrieved widow because of her loss.