If you're like me, you're tired of the trash that Hollywood serves up year after year, even mystified how a lot of this trash gets such ratings here in IMDB. I suspect that's because Hollywood is only interested in money, not art, and money is more easily made by robots ... for robots--the indoctrinated masses that can't think their way out of a wet paper bag.

What I loved about this movie was its honesty. The plot is compelling. It keeps you guessing to the end.. The characters are so very human, even frail. the humor subtle, the acting superb, and the photography ... oh so beautiful--all the stuff that made movies great in the beginning. In short, this is a movie by humans... for humans.

If you're looking for cgi and a thrill ride, this is not for you. Move on.

Slow and tedious with little action the director/writer (always a big mistake) drags us through an uninteresting story about Russians (speaking in upper class English accents) who don't act like Russians, spying for no apparent high minded reason, and eventually being betrayed, except for one grand sacrifice.

I accept that I am not among the sophisticati who live and breathe movies and contribute frequently to IMDB. But as a U.S. diplomat I served at the U.S. Embassy in communist Budapest Hungary in the Cold War 1970's. Much that was depicted in this movie ran true back then -- dilapitated decaying wall-peeling apartnents and buildings versus relatively elegant government buildings, bugging of even private apartments, etc. etc. Much was the same in Moscow too. I write rarely on IMDB and only when some movie especially intrigues me. This one did. No grotesque slasher torture-, gun- or hyper-violence here, no f-words. Rather, intelligent dialogues, gorgeous repeat gorgeous cinenatography, delicate music and I venture director's and financial backers' love for this movie's concept make this movie a true work of ART. I am glad it came to be nade.