Anne (Garai) is the adopted eldest daughter of powerful politician Alexander Keyes (Nighy) and his wife (Agutter), who went on to have two of their own children (Redmayne and Temple). It's the glorious summer of 1939, when Britain felt like it had averted conflict with Hitler, so when Anne stumbles on hints of a government conspiracy, she turns to a fellow actor (Bonneville) and her boyfriend (Cox) for help. But the mystery only deepens, compounded by a sinister Home Office official (Northam) and the distracting presence of her Aunt Elizabeth (Christie).

The story is framed by a modern-day sequence in which a young man (Toby Regbo) approaches two aged gentlemen (the wonderful Lee and Redgrave) to find out what really happened 70 years earlier. Even so, the tale unfolds from Anne's perspective, which offers Poliakoff the chance to play with cinematic point of view. This involves indulging in scenes that are both gorgeously picturesque and fraught with Hitchcockian tension. He also creates especially vivid characters, which gives the cast plenty to chew on.

Garai is radiant at the centre of the film, and holds her own in both the light romance and some extremely harrowing sequences. She also looks especially ravishing in the period costumes, which Poliakoff uses as a contrast to the whispered Cinderella-esque aspersions against her. Most of the other actors offer charming turns that are shaded with the seriousness of the events. Nighy shines in a steelier role than he usually gets, and Christie is terrific as the frightfully posh Elizabeth.

The one odd note is Northam's slightly too-evil character. But then, he is here to continually remind us of the mystery at the centre of the slightly too-busy plot. The film's shift from bright and witty to violent and even horrific is deftly handled, effectively keeping us off balance, which of course lets us identify with Anne even more. But in the end, it's the resonant themes that catch us by surprise, as Britain becomes a police state to respond to a fearful global situation.

themes, language, innuendo, violence

12.Oct.09