A Compassionate Spy Explained

Director:Steve James
Cinematography:Tom Bergmann
Editing:Steve James
Distributor:Magnolia Pictures (United States)[1]
Country:United States
Gross:$34,502[2] [3]

A Compassionate Spy is a 2022 American documentary film written and directed by Steve James. It premiered out of competition at the 79th edition of the Venice Film Festival. The film was released in the United States on August 4, 2023.

Plot

Through a long interview with the subject and his wife, archive footage and some dramatic reenactments, the film tells the story of Manhattan Project physicist and Soviet Union spy Theodore Hall.

Release

The film had its world premiere at the premiered out of competition at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2022.[4] It was later screened at various festivals including the Telluride Film Festival,[5] the Chicago International Film Festival,[6] and the Palm Springs International Film Festival.[7] The film was released in the United States by Magnolia Pictures on August 4, 2023.[8]

Reception

[9] [10]

The reenactments were criticized by Guy Lodge from Variety, who described them as "unnecessary", making the film "more televisual than in James's best work".[11] David Ehrlich from IndieWire wrote that the reenactments were a "miscalculation that keeps [the film] at arm’s length."[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Berlin: Magnolia Takes Steve James‘ Doc A Compassionate Spy for North America. . February 15, 2023. Scott Roxborough. February 16, 2023.
  2. Web site: A Compassionate Spy . Box Office Mojo. Nash Information Services, LLC.
  3. Web site: A Compassionate Spy . The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC.
  4. News: Fienberg . Daniel . ‘A Compassionate Spy’ Review: Steve James Doc Is a Nuanced Portrait of Love and Espionage . 4 February 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter . 2 September 2022.
  5. News: Ravindran . Manori . ‘Life Itself’ Director Steve James on Uncovering a Shocking Nuclear Secret in ‘A Compassionate Spy’ . 4 February 2023 . . 2 September 2022.
  6. News: Rush . Mariah . Chicago film festival launches with doc that profiles (but never judges) a leaker of secrets to the Soviets . 4 February 2023 . . 7 October 2022 . en.
  7. News: Wissot . Lauren . "If We Wanted To Visualize This at All, We’d Have to Do It Ourselves": Steve James on A Compassionate Spy . 4 February 2023 . . 6 January 2023.
  8. Web site: The Associated Press. The Associated Press. July 1, 2023 . Summer movie season is in full swing. Here's what's coming through Labor Day . 2023-07-08 . ABC News.
  9. Web site: A Compassionate Spy. . . 28 September 2023 . en.
  10. Web site: A Compassionate Spy. Metacritic. 28 September 2023.
  11. News: Lodge . Guy . ‘A Compassionate Spy’ Review: A Gripping Biography of a Manhattan Project Outlier . 4 February 2023 . Variety . 2 September 2022.
  12. News: Ehrlich . David . ‘A Compassionate Spy’ Review: Steve James Explores a Marriage Built on Nuclear Secrets . 4 February 2023 . . 2 September 2022 . en.

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