France 3 broadcasts “An Ordinary Spy” this Monday evening at 9:10 p.m. This film, which takes place in the middle of the Cold War, is inspired by an incredible true story.
True stories are often a blessing for producers and screenwriters. Released in 2021, An ordinary spy is one of those films that has its origins in a story so incredible that it can only be true. France 3 invites its viewers to discover this historical film which takes place during the Cold War this Monday evening, from 9:10 p.m.
An ordinary spy tells the crazy story of Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch), an uneventful English sales representative. In 1960, he was recruited by the American and British secret services because he was very ordinary. The CIA and MI-6 want to use his cover to learn about the progress of the Soviet nuclear program in the USSR. But his back and forth will sow doubt among his partner, Sheila (Jessie Buckley), but also among the KGB.
The true story ofAn ordinary spy
To be ordinary to the point of becoming a spy… That seems completely crazy. And yet, Greville Wynne did exist. This English trade representative did indeed go back and forth between Europe and the USSR to infiltrate among the Soviet authorities. Thanks to the help of Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Penkovsky (played by Merab Ninidze in the film), he will be able to transmit to London secret information provided by the Soviet agent. And among the documents that come into his possession, we find the construction plans for the missile launch bases located in Cuba.
By recovering these documents, Greville Wynne will contribute to the de-escalation of the Cold War. This missile crisis in Cuba was a source of major concern in the United States. By discovering these documents and handing them over to the Americans, the ordinary British spy avoided the point of no return in the conflict between East and West.
However, Greville Wynne will not be done with the KGB. He will ultimately be unmasked and sentenced to eight years in prison. In 1964, he benefited from a prisoner exchange and was released after two years. He died in 1990 at the age of 70 from throat cancer. Conversely, Oleg Penkovsky was found guilty of espionage and executed in 1963.