Red Joan Movie Review (2018)

Based on a true story about an unassuming woman drawn into Cold War espionage, Red Joan is an engaging, well-paced drama elevated by strong performances and intriguing mysteries.

When a film says it is based on a true story, I tend to go down a rabbit hole looking for details about the original. The Emerald Forest, My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done, Owning Mahowny, and so many more are “loosely” based. They inspired the film’s narrative, but many of the details are murky. That doesn’t change the quality of the film, though, and that seems to be the case in this story.

Red Joan is about Joan, an older woman who receives a knock at her door and is taken into custody for espionage during her youth. As a young woman, Joan studied physics at Cambridge and befriended a coed named Sonya, who took her to political meetings and introduced her to her cousin, Leo. The cousins were deeply involved in British/Russian wartime politics, while Joan shied away, going on to work for a British company with goals not openly discussed.

This is a composed drama that feels very proper in the telling (think gorgeous ’40s hairdo and sleek skirts and heels), with a hint of mystery. It never gets overly emotional, but it has a story to tell and remains quietly compelling throughout. I never got bored.

Although Dame Judi Dench is the big name attached to this project, most of the film centers around her younger self, played by Sophie Cookson (from The Kingsman series). And while the older Joan is riddled with fear, frustration, and memories, you watch the younger Joan build confidence and a true sense of who she is and what she believes.

Red Joan takes inspiration from the life of Melita Norwood, a British civil servant and a KGB spy. I did not know this was based on a real person when I began watching the movie, and finding that out at the end elevated it for me. It suddenly felt richer and clicked in a new way. I was very glad to learn about it.

This is an understated film that remains lightly suspenseful the entire time. You look forward to learning exactly what is happening, who everyone is, what impact they might have, and how Joan will manage. It is the story of what one woman chose to do with her vast knowledge and connections, providing you only small pieces at a time. But by the end, I was satisfied.

Runtime: 100 minutes

Motion Picture Rating: R

Languages Spoken In The Film: English

Should You Watch It? Yes

Did I Cry? Nope

My Rating: 3.25/5 Stars

Available: Free on Netflix, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms