If you’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing Tomas Alfredson’s prior film Let the Right One In then it should become quickly apparent that Alfredson is a filmmaker who likes to explore the idea of loneliness. His follow up and first English language film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is entirely evident of this as the one common thread all of its characters share is an inherent loneliness.
Based on the novel by John Le Carre, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy has three central themes at its core. Loneliness, loyalty and betrayal. Despite being set during the Cold War, it has less interest in dissecting the politics of its time period and is far more concerned with exploring the humanity of its central characters.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is your basic ‘whodunit?’ Set in the early 70s at the height of the Cold War, Chief Commanding Officer “Control” (John Hurt) has become increasingly paranoid that Moscow has tapped an insider at the highest ranks of the British Office of Intelligence (the MI-6.)
“Control” sends one of his finest agents, Jim Prudeaux (Mark Strong), to Budapest in order to recruit a Russian Turncoat. However, the mission ends in a double cross as Jim is shot and kidnapped. With egg on their faces, “Control” is forced to retire from his position at the head of MI-6. With him he takes his right hand man George Smiley (Gary Oldman). It's clear that Smiley had no intentions of early retirement, but nonetheless, he still remains loyal to “Control” and agrees to his terms of dismissal.
Through an opening credit montage, Alfredson gives us almost everything we need to know about Smiley in less than 4 minutes. His marriage is on the rocks as his wife has recently left him. He also struggles with early retirement and is entirely lost trying to fill in his days. It's at home where he is most vulnerable. And he has a keen observant clinical eye that never fails to miss the finer details. Through this montage, we also learn that “Control” has since passed on.
Meanwhile, back at MI-6, the snivelling Percy Alleline (Toby Jones) and his right-hand man Roy Bland (Ciarán Hinds) have seized control. Out with the old and in with the new as they seek to forcefully inherit what they see as being a new era. Their first order is to establish a better working relationship with the United States. They plan to do this through a new Russian Turncoat of their own who is willing to provide vital information. The operation becomes known as Operation Witchcraft.
One of the foot soldiers, Field Agent Ricky Tarr (Tom Hardy), warns Civil Servant Oliver Lacon that there is a mole at the top of the Circus. Knowing that “Control” had the same theory, Lacon recruits Smiley to look into the matter as an outside consultant. As Lacon says to Smiley; “it’s your generation, George. Your legacy.” Aided by Tarr’s boss Peter Guilliam (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Special Branch Officer Mendel, Smiley continues on from where “Control” left off and investigates the matter at hand.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy has been rightfully called the Anti-Bond and for good measure. It removes all of the glamour of being a spy and instead presents the cold methodical and clinical world of espionage as it actually is. There are no car chases or shoot-outs. The action in this film comes from a simple raised eyebrow or an inflection of vocal tone implying mistrust. The characters are constantly looking over their shoulders, checking their exits and guarding every inch of their personal lives.
Its set design reeks of stained cigarettes. It’s depiction of London is cramped, almost filthy and borderline ugly. The offices of MI-6 feature individual closed off soundproofed pods conveying a further sense of heightened claustrophobia. The cold dreary European landscapes provide a general sense of malaise. The stifling sense of dread is very well conveyed by cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema.
The film follows Smiley’s keen eye as we tag along on his investigation meeting the various players at hand. Gary Oldman is terrifically restrained here. Dialling the theatrics way down and creating a chameleon of a character. He is entirely calm and never once loses his cool. Like most loners, he is highly observant as his piercing eyes never flinch. A workaholic as is frequently noted by his lack of sleep. He also possesses perhaps just a slight touch of a sadistic edge beneath the surface. He is a slave to the details. He doesn’t need outright physical violence to get what he needs out of his suspects. His calm piercing eyes do that job just the same.
An example of his methods are displayed in an early scene in the film where Smiley, Guilliam and Mendel are driving along in a car. Smiley sits in the back seat as a fly buzzes around the interior of the car. Guilliam tries to bat it away out of annoyance. Mendel remains unphased. Smiley just calmly observes the fly before winding down the window and letting it fly out of the car. It’s a terrific little moment that tells us everything we need to know about Smiley.
Like all of us though, Smiley also has his weaknesses. Most notably his wife. The duplicitous nature of his job has clearly led to the fracturing of his marriage as the passion he has for the job seemingly is not being replicated in his marriage. Leading his wife astray and into the arms of other men. His wife's betrayal clearly hurts him, but still, he retains his cool and pushes forward with the job at hand.
As Smiley interviews Ricky Tarr, we learn that Tarr was on operation in Istanbul watching over a potential defector. However the defector in question is far from a delegate so Tarr gives up on him. However his battered wife catches Tarr’s attention. His wife Irania (Svetlana Khodchenkova) also happens to be a Soviet Agent and has the mother load of all intel involving the identity of the mole and what the Russians are actually conspiring. After being charmed and seduced by Tarr, she agrees to trade her intel in favor of a new life in the West.
Tarr sends word of this back to MI-6, but his word is intercepted by the mole. Thus Irania is kidnapped by the Russian Secret Service. Despite Tarr’s claims of Irania not being his type, it’s clear that he has actually fallen in love with her and feels great guilt about the predicament he has put her in. Later on in the film when being convinced to take part in the final sting to catch the mole, Tarr outright says directly to Smiley; “I want her traded back unharmed. I want a family, I don't want to end up like you lot.”
Indicating that Tarr not only might be one of the best of these men, but also has enough self-awareness to realize the toll the Circus takes on them all. Unfortunately for Tarr, he doesn’t know the sad truth that Irania has already been murdered. Leading to one of Smiley’s more sadistic moments in offering a false promise of “I’ll do my best.”
Smiley’s would-be new protege Peter Guilliam also has his own personal troubles. Our first impressions of Peter are perhaps that of a glamor boy. He wears fine suits, has well groomed hair, drives a Mercedes and is seemingly popular among the ladies of the MI-6 offices. As the investigation intensifies, Smiley warns Guilliam that if he has any personal matters to attend to then he should deal with them now rather than later. This leads to a brief scene where it is revealed that Guilliam is actually a closested gay man.
But again, his loyalty to the Circus forces Guilliam’s hand to break up with his lover for both fear of his own reputation within the circus and his lover's safety. Resulting in a rather poignant moment of Guilliam breaking down into tears as he sacrifices a part of his personal life for the service.
It is also eventually revealed that Jim Pridueax is in fact alive and has been traded back by the Russians. Now working as a School Teacher living out of his small Caravan, he becomes the center of attention to a young rotund school boy by the name of Bill Roach. Young Bill is very much an attentive and observant loner. Perhaps a potential candidate for a role as a future agent in the Circus. Noticing these qualities in Bill and perhaps being reminded of his old buddy Bill Hayden (Colin Firth) from the Circus, Jim takes a liking to Bill and the two strike up a friendship of sorts.
Speaking of Bill Hayden, I guess we have to go into spoiler mode here. As the investigation winds down, it is revealed that Bill Hayden is the mole. Who is Bill Hayden? First impressions of Hayden present him as a cool and suave ladies man. In his first scene with Guilliam, he notes that he came downstairs specifically to get a glimpse of the new Blonde. He’s very charming to boot but also a slithering snake in the grass. At the behest of the Russians, he seduces Smiley’s wife in order to create a blind spot. It seems he has no real loyalty to anyone other than himself based on what we get to know about him.
Throughout the film, there are many flashbacks to a lively Christmas Party. What at first seems a jovial way to show happier times for these men actually in turn reveals a great deal about Hayden himself. It’s here we see Smiley’s first hints of uncertainty towards Hayden. It’s also here where we learn that Hayden has seduced Smiley’s wife.
Later on in the bittersweet denouement (set to a wonderful rendition of La Mer by Julio Igleias) we also learn that Hayden and Pridueax may have potentially had something of a sexual relationship. As Hayden slithers into the room with a wine glass in his hand looking for someone to toast with, from across the room he spots Prideaux in the corner huddled by himself in deep thought.
The two notice each other and their eyes meet as Prideaux sits up straight and smiles at Hayden only for Hayden to return the smile. Then the smile turns to perhaps a brief acknowledgment on Prideaux’s behalf that deep down he knows the truth that he doesn’t want to believe. In these few seconds, both actors take us through a whirlwind of emotions all conveyed solely through body language. It is nothing short of wonderful film making from all involved.
This theory is further backed up by Hayden’s final confession to Smiley where he admits to having both a female and male lover almost confirming that Hayden is indeed bisexual. Which is only fitting considering the double life he is leading. Based on that one shared moment, it can be theorized that Hayden seduced Pridueax and perhaps the two were lovers at one point in time. Upon reveal of Hayden’s betrayal, Prideuax alienates himself from young Bill Roach telling him to bugger off and to just join in with the other boys. A final warning to not wind up like him and his lot.
In many ways, Tomas Alfredson was the perfect choice of Director to bring Tinker Tailor to the big screen. This is a story of highly observant loners crumbling at the seams under the pressure of the job and who better to Direct that than a loner himself? Just as the film is about lonely observers, so too is it shot with an observant perfectionist eye. Alfredson’s Direction is nothing short of immaculate. It's completely restrained subtle film making at its finest. Giving just us enough detail without overfeeding us.
While fans of the book have criticized Alfredson and his screenwriters Peter Straughan and Bridget O’Connor for the many omissions and changes made, I can only applaud them. Per John Le Carre's request, they didn’t just simply remake the classic BBC miniseries or retell the book word for word. Instead they have crafted something brand new that is still highly faithful to the core of it.
The political intrigue is still here for those looking for it. There is a wonderful monologue delivered by Gary Oldman that is the centerpiece of the film. It’s a monologue that is filled with grief over the moral ambiguity that underpins the entire Cold War. However, as much as the film is a study on masculinity, betrayal, legacy and loyalty. The core of it all comes right back down to loneliness and self deception. These men are profoundly lonely. Once idealistic at heart but now battered and worn down by the job.
“Control” becomes consumed by his paranoia and unresting suspicion as he dies in his bed alone surrounded only by his paperwork. Guilliam sacrifices his own desires for fear of the ramifications it may bring upon him. Tarr is left standing in the cold rain waiting for a chance at happiness that will never come. Prideuax will most likely continue to lock himself away in his caravan, further alienating himself from the outside world as he holds onto that pain. These men are all breed of the same kilt
Ironically enough, it’s perhaps the Mole himself who just may be the only one being true to himself. As is noted with Hayden’s final words to Smiley; “I’m someone who has made his mark.”
As for Smiley? Smiley may be able to forgive his wife in the end, but for how long will their harmony last until it all goes awry again? Because how can anyone possibly be loyal to something when they can’t even be true to themselves?
-Daniel M
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