The Debt
Stars: Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson
***
The Debt is an espionage story with a twist. In 1996, retired Mossad agents Rachel, David and Stefan (Helen Mirren, Ciarán Hinds and Tom Wilkinson) are heroes, acclaimed for their brave capture and execution of a notorious war criminal in 1966. In flashback, we meet the same characters played by Jessica Chastain, Marton Csokas, and Sam Worthington, learn the personal dynamics of the mission and the key to a long held secret. The flashback sequence makes up the bulk of the film so it’s fair to say this isn’t Helen Mirren’s film, but her character, Rachel’s. Unusual for a spy movie, the story is told through the eyes of a woman but that adds depth to what is essentially a pulpy spy story.
