Red Joan

2019 • 101 minutes

About this movie

The year is 2000 and Joan Stanley is living in contented retirement in suburbia at the turn of the millennium. Her tranquil life is suddenly disrupted when she’s arrested by MI5 and accused of providing intelligence to Communist Russia. Cut to 1938 where Joan is a Cambridge physics student who falls for young communist Leo Galich and through him, begins to see the world in a new light. Working at a top-secret nuclear research facility during WWII, Joan comes to the realisation that the world is on the brink of mutually assured destruction. Confronted with an impossible question – what price would you pay for peace? - Joan must choose between betraying her country and loved ones or saving them.

Ratings and reviews

I found this film rather disappointing considering the talented actors in it. Some of the dialogue seemed a bit cliched and insufficient attention was given to the mystery at the heart of the film: why Joan made her decision. Tom Hughes turned in a very good performance.