Told in part during the late 1950s and early 1960s and in part 30 years later after the fall of the Soviet Union, this is a Cold War espionage tale that focuses on the human element, rather than fast cars, fancy stunts and casino games. More Greene and less Fleming, in other words, with Alan Furst also being a good comparison. Charles Dance stands out in his usual way when he appears in the later portions of the story even though, frankly, he doesn't seem to make much of an effort. The rest of the 1990s side of things is rather weak and significantly reduces the overall quality of the film. On the other hand, everything about the Cold War story is terrific, from the narrative itself to the production values to the actors' performances. Even Rebecca Ferguson, in a dual role, seems to be more committed to Katya than to Lauren. In the end, it's a story of desperate people in desperate circumstances and can really only end one way.