DBT Bureau
Bengaluru, 26 May
The world of spies is always intriguing. Nation-states pursue unthinkable adventures to get information from enemy states. These spying operations even cover seemingly friendly states. Netflix’s ‘The Spy’ is one such web series that depict the tale of Israeli Mossad’s top spy, Eli Cohen. The role, which is portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen, is inspired by true events. Without any political and ideological affiliations, it can be said that ‘The Spy’ is an engaging series that enthralls the audience through its plots of twists and turns.
The storyline:
The plot of ‘The Spy’ was developed around the 1960s, which eventually led to the 1967 six-day war between Israel and Syria. During these years, Israel and Syrian forces were fighting with Israel facing fires coming from Golan Heights. Israel’s spy agency comes to know from satellite pictures supplied by the US that the firing from Golan Heights is a distraction as Syria is planning something big. The agency is keen to embed a spy in Syria. Thus, unassuming Eli Cohen is selected to undertake the operation. Cohen is trained in the art of espionage and given the identity of a Syrian national living in Argentina. After gaining entry into Syria, Cohen befriends high society people in Syria. As he continued his supply of vital information to Israel through a web of spies, he also became close to the ruling elite. As he draws deep into the power corridors, he is appointed the country’s Deputy Defence Minister and becomes close to the future President of the country. Eventually, his intentions and actions were exposed and he met his fate.
Acting nuances:
The acting of the chief protagonist, Sacha Baron Cohen is sharp in this series. The actor of famed comedy movies ‘Borat’ & ‘The Dictator’ has proved his cinematic skills beyond the genre of comedy. His transition from an ordinary Israeli citizen to being an elite of Syrian society seems effortless and natural. Some frailties of a human – writing letters when alone in Syria (which will never be sent to his wife & comes with substantial risks of being exposed) or not being able to adjust to an ordinary Israeli life (when he returned to his family for a short time)- have been nicely portrayed.
‘The Spy’ has received favourable reviews from audiences since its release in 2019. However, some point to the visible departures from historical facts and question the accuracy of the facts presented. Nonetheless, the spy series is visually appealing with some excellent camera work.
