"The Courier": A blast back to my 9th grade year . . .

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Ah yes, the Cuban Missile Crisis. The days all the adults were looking a bit wired and homeroom was spent drawing out our residences and where the "fall out" room would be. Plus, it had to be signed by a parent along with the quickest way I would get home from school in case something went bang! I remember being at a rail stop for some reason and was cooled out for 20 minutes as nothing but flat cars passed with two tanks per. (They were headed south to Florida. They were really going to invade!)

I digress.

This is the story of a naive Brit salesman (Cumberbatch) being pressed into patriotic service by MI-6 and the CIA. The CIA had lost its courier to Penkovsky who was a "concerned" Russian working at the highest level of scientific trade and industry. Penkovsky feared Kruschev would wake up one morning and decide it was a good day to end the world.

The beginnings had splashes of mirth as the incredulous Greville was gob-smacked that two countries wanted him to be a "spy". Greville took some light tradecraft training but was assured he would not be under suspicion.

Once Greville met up with Penkovsky they became close allies and friends. Later, Penkovsky worked to pass maps of Cuban missile emplacements. They accomplished that before things went tilt. The rest of the story continues in a dour and sad tone as all the players lick their wounds and the families of Greville and Penkovsky are emotionally ravaged.

This is based on a true story I never was aware of until now. Both men sacrificed much to help the world from being unwound. Penkovsky was played by Merab Ninidze (himself a Russian) and it was his movie. Merab ruled.

This film checks off all the boxes. Go see.

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Topic - "The Courier": A blast back to my 9th grade year . . . - Billy Wonka 20:08:46 03/19/21 (6)

"played by Merab Ninidze (himself a Russian)" LOL! - Victor Khomenko 06:04:12 03/24/21 (4)

RE: "played by Merab Ninidze (himself a Russian)" LOL! - Billy Wonka 19:15:27 03/26/21 (3)

"but season two sagged" Worse that that... - Victor Khomenko 10:39:06 04/12/21 (0)

Similar, one would say, to calling you a Massachusetts liberal. nt - tinear 13:46:02 03/27/21 (1)

That's me, Boston Irish! * - Billy Wonka 14:35:05 04/14/21 (0)

Thanks. I was hoping this would be a good one. nt - free.ranger 21:01:59 03/19/21 (0)

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