Historical drama. A mini-series about the life and work of the "Cambridge Five". I continue to study the world of intelligence and espionage, and at one time this series loomed on the horizon, but I kept postponing watching it indefinitely, as they say, and then I just got into the subject. And here's my brief opinion - British aristocrats in the service of the Land of the Soviets. The series has both advantages that brought your humble servant joy, and disadvantages that pissed off (yes, again stepped on the old rake), so let me finish the introductory part and focus your attention on the essence.
So, the advantages:
1. The atmosphere - espionage, alarming, when the traditional British stiffness faced communism, which was supported by young students, especially aristocrats, because these people were not from the poor sectors of society. Kim's father Philby was a well-known Arabist, a respected person, and other agents had relatives no less respected and had authority in society. Mid-thirties, harsh and bloody forties, early fifties. The Spanish Civil War, World War II and the Great Patriotic War, the beginning of the Cold War, the nuclear race. A very harsh and difficult time.
2. Costumes and decorations - The British Empire, which will soon lose its power and become a US puppet, but has not yet realized it. The empire still imagines itself as the navel of the earth, but this is not for long. Suits, hats, ties - everything is in stock and perfectly matched to the situation.
So the disadvantages:
1. A lot of gomosyatiny - I haven't found anything like that in the biography of these people, but here they put everything on display, either trying to humiliate him, or fig knows him, come up with a reason yourself. It is disgusting, it is disgusting, in order to watch the series in full, you had to cover the screen with your hand from this abomination and disgusting. I understand viewers who quit watching the show at these moments.
2. Bed scenes - if you do not know how - do not take it! These scenes look mediocre and cause nothing but irritation. It was superfluous in this show.
3. Formulations - Creators! In 1951, the KGB did not yet exist, the Soviet special service was called the MGB in those years (reorganized from the NKVD in 1946). At least open Wikipedia! You are welcome! How infuriating it is when they make elementary mistakes in a historical series.
4. Historical inconsistencies - this applies to any picture or series on a historical theme. Only the motives of the heroes coincide, their studies at Cambridge and the operations in which they participated have not yet been revealed. Their recruiter and contact (Arnold Deutsch, codenamed "Otto") was much younger than on the show. All the "five" worked in isolation and not all of them were best friends. Why was not John Kerncross prescribed and so on. The series gives only a general impression about the agents, showing them people with their own convictions who actively helped us during the Great Patriotic War and after, even obtaining information about the American nuclear bomb, which helped accelerate its development in our country and save many lives, including ours. grandparents, dads and moms, by the way.
A little about the main characters:
1. Kim Philby performed by Toby Stevens is the smartest and smartest of the four friends. In the future, he goes to work in the British Secret Service, where he is looking for Soviet agents in Great Britain (he catches himself). Sometimes emotions take over, but Toby played well, no complaints here. Well done!
2. Guy Burgess, played by Tom Hollander, is an eccentric, eccentric, extravagant agent. In the future - an employee of the BBC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His antics (albeit under the influence of alcohol) are remembered and dilute the agents' everyday life. Tom did a great job.
3. Anthony Blunt performed by Samuel West - the second smartest in the team of friends. Prudent and prudent. In the future, he will be a court art critic, a member of the royal family. Samuel perfectly played the classic British aristocrat.
4. Donald McLain, played by Rupert Penry-Jones, is a nervous, sometimes indecisive, but convinced communist. In the future, he will be an employee of the United Kingdom Foreign Office and Deputy British Ambassador to the United States. It was through him that secret documents on nuclear weapons got to the USSR. Rupert quite confidently coped with this role.
Here young Benedict Cumberbatch also appeared in a small role.
The show made a good impression on me, but the gomosyatina was clearly superfluous and ruined the viewing. Therefore, just because of this, I will not recommend it for viewing. Because I try to instill good taste in my viewers and warn about the abomination that happens in the pictures.
Unfortunately, there is no alternative to the "Cambridge Five" in the world of cinema. There is really a picture "Another Camp" in 1984 about the school years of Guy Burgess, British production (like this series). It's a pity, an interesting topic about extraordinary people. Aristocrats who thought not only about the fate of their wallet, but also about the fate of the poor people of England and the whole world. Idealists in white collars who donated tons of top-secret information to Moscow, thereby saving millions of lives on both sides of the Iron Curtain. Communists who believed in a better future for everyone. Revealed only with the help of traitors from Soviet intelligence.
As a result, we have a good historical series about the famous "Cambridge Five", with a good script, excellent and tense atmosphere, good music, but with an abundance of homosexuality and a bunch of inconsistencies.
My rating is 5 out of 10. As for the recommendation - see for yourself!