Every secret has a price.|Jul. 24, 2019|France | Israel | Germany | United States | United Kingdom|120 Min.|TV-MA
Genre: Drama;Thriller
Description: “The Operative” is a 2019 international thriller film directed by Yuval Adler, based on the Hebrew novel *The English Teacher* by Yiftach Reicher-Atir, a former intelligence officer. The story follows Thomas, a former Mossad agent played by Martin Freeman, who is drawn back into the world of espionage when he receives a mysterious call from Rachel, portrayed by Diane Kruger. Rachel, once recruited and trained by Thomas, had disappeared but now seeks his help.
The narrative alternates between the present and flashbacks detailing Rachel’s past missions. Her final assignment involved posing as an English teacher in Tehran to monitor Farhad Razavi, an heir to an Iranian electronics company. As Rachel integrates into daily life to avoid suspicion, she forms a romantic relationship with Farhad, who introduces her to Tehran’s underground nightlife.
This connection allows Thomas to involve Farhad in a scheme to smuggle parts for Iran’s nuclear program, aiming to sabotage it and recruit him as a Mossad asset. However, Rachel’s personal involvement leads to dangerous consequences, causing her to rebel, change her identity, and cut ties with Thomas. In the present, she reaches out to him, seeking assistance to reclaim her life without risking assassination, as she has become a potential security threat.
The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 10, 2019, and was released on August 2, 2019. Starring Diane Kruger, Martin Freeman, and Cas Anvar, *The Operative* is a gripping tale of loyalty, betrayal, and the complexities of espionage.
Cast director: Yuval Adler
Cast actor: Diane Kruger, Martin Freeman, Cas Anvar, Werner Daehn, Liron Levo, Hadi Khanjanpour, Maria Gnecchi, Erez Ben-Ezra, Julia Schneider, Daniel Wandelt
Original name: The Operative