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Angelina Jolie’s “Salt” might heat up the old Cold War, but “Farewell,” which also opens (in select cities) tomorrow, takes us back to a pivotal moment in the real one:
French director Christian Carion’s real-life espionage thriller “Farewell” is set at what is arguably the era’s turning point: It’s 1981, Ronald Reagan is barely in office, and France’s François Mitterrand presents him with a list of Soviets who’ve infiltrated American government and business. Mr. Mitterrand also offers an extraordinary estimate: 40% of the Soviet budget is being spent on defense, most of it on pilfering technology. The Soviet Union can’t possibly survive, the White House says. Let’s propose a strategic missile-defense initiative and push ’em over the edge.
Experience tells us that the people who make movies are not very nice, so we should all be nervous about how Ronald Reagan’s portrayed. But in the looks department, Fred Ward’s an inspired piece of casting. There are 17 reviews posted on Rotten Tomatoes for a Fresh Rating of 81%. The Village Voice not liking it might be the best indicator “Farewell” is worth a look.
If you’re looking for a Cold War triple feature tomorrow, “Countdown to Zero,” a documentary featuring Mikhail Gorbachev tracing the history of the atomic bomb also premieres.
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