U.K. broadcaster Sky History has acquired “Liberté,” a short film about a female Muslim spy who served as a British secret agent during World War 2.
“Liberté” tells the true story of Noor Inayat Khan, the daughter of a Sufi preacher and an American, who became a France-based spy and radio operator for the British during the war, and was ultimately held captive by the Nazi regime and executed at the Dachau concentration camp.
The drama is written and co-produced by Sky News anchor, broadcaster and journalist Sam Naz, who also stars as Khan. The film is based on testimony given by Khan’s German captors after the war. “Liberté” is believed to have been the last word uttered by Khan before her death.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of Khan’s mission.
“Here was a key figure in the war effort who looked like me, yet I had...
“Liberté” tells the true story of Noor Inayat Khan, the daughter of a Sufi preacher and an American, who became a France-based spy and radio operator for the British during the war, and was ultimately held captive by the Nazi regime and executed at the Dachau concentration camp.
The drama is written and co-produced by Sky News anchor, broadcaster and journalist Sam Naz, who also stars as Khan. The film is based on testimony given by Khan’s German captors after the war. “Liberté” is believed to have been the last word uttered by Khan before her death.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of Khan’s mission.
“Here was a key figure in the war effort who looked like me, yet I had...
- 1/4/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Radhika Apte played the role of Noor Inayat Khan in 'A Call to Spy', which marked Radhika Apte's international film debut. She will be seen playing a similar role, of an undercover agent, in the upcoming film "Mrs. Undercover". The film marks directorial debut of writer Anushree Mehta. The poster indicates the interesting dichotomous combination of an Indian housewife holding a gun.
Talking about the film, Radhika says, "Anushree came to me with this film some time back and the novelty of the story had me excited. When I saw this first look, it was that same excitement I felt and it was not only as someone who is a part of the film but also as a member of the audience. I think we all wanted to show the essence of the film through this first poster and I must say that we have captured it well.
Talking about the film, Radhika says, "Anushree came to me with this film some time back and the novelty of the story had me excited. When I saw this first look, it was that same excitement I felt and it was not only as someone who is a part of the film but also as a member of the audience. I think we all wanted to show the essence of the film through this first poster and I must say that we have captured it well.
- 3/28/2021
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Actress Freida Pinto will essay British spy Noor Inayat Khan in the upcoming limited series, Spy Princess.
Freida will also executive-produce the limited series based on Shrabani Basu's book, Spy Princess: The Life Of Noor Inayat Khan, reports deadline.com.
Anand Tucker will direct the project and Olivia Hetreed will pen the screen adaptation based on the book, with Basu attached as series consultant.
"She was a fierce and amazing woman, the most unlikely heroine of World War II. Sending women to the front line is controversial even now. Then it was unthinkable," Freida said about Noor, the first Allied Forces female wireless operator sent into Nazi occupied France in 1943.
"Sending a Sufi mystic, who won't use a gun, daughter of a long-haired Indian Guru who preaches love and peace -- ridiculous! But Noor thrives, not in spite of her differences, but because of them. Her struggle to reconcile...
Freida will also executive-produce the limited series based on Shrabani Basu's book, Spy Princess: The Life Of Noor Inayat Khan, reports deadline.com.
Anand Tucker will direct the project and Olivia Hetreed will pen the screen adaptation based on the book, with Basu attached as series consultant.
"She was a fierce and amazing woman, the most unlikely heroine of World War II. Sending women to the front line is controversial even now. Then it was unthinkable," Freida said about Noor, the first Allied Forces female wireless operator sent into Nazi occupied France in 1943.
"Sending a Sufi mystic, who won't use a gun, daughter of a long-haired Indian Guru who preaches love and peace -- ridiculous! But Noor thrives, not in spite of her differences, but because of them. Her struggle to reconcile...
- 1/16/2021
- by Glamsham Editorial
- GlamSham
Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto is set to star in and executive produce Spy Princess, a limited series based on Shrabani Basu’s Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan, the definitive biography of Noor’s life, from writer Olivia Hetreed (Girl With a Pearl Earring) and Red Room Films.
Hetreed will pen the adaptation based on the book, and Basu will serve as a consultant on the series.
Noor was the first female wireless operator sent into occupied France in 1943 – a role with a life expectancy of just six weeks.
“She was a fierce and amazing woman, the most unlikely heroine of World War 2,” Pinto said. “Sending women to the front line is controversial even now. Then it was unthinkable. Sending a Sufi mystic, who won’t use a gun, daughter of a long-haired Indian Guru who preaches love and peace – ridiculous! But Noor thrives, not in spite of her differences,...
Hetreed will pen the adaptation based on the book, and Basu will serve as a consultant on the series.
Noor was the first female wireless operator sent into occupied France in 1943 – a role with a life expectancy of just six weeks.
“She was a fierce and amazing woman, the most unlikely heroine of World War 2,” Pinto said. “Sending women to the front line is controversial even now. Then it was unthinkable. Sending a Sufi mystic, who won’t use a gun, daughter of a long-haired Indian Guru who preaches love and peace – ridiculous! But Noor thrives, not in spite of her differences,...
- 1/15/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva and Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
A Call to Spy movie review is here. The 2019 American historical drama film written and produced by Sarah Megan Thomas and directed by Lydia Dean Pilcher is inspired by the true stories of three women who worked as spies in Churchill's Secret Army. A Call to Spy stars Sarah Megan Thomas, Radhika Apte and Stana Katic. A Call to Spy was released in the United States on October 2, 2020, in theaters and on video on demand.
A Call to Spy will be streaming on Prime Video from December 11, 2020.
A Call to Spy review
Virginia Hall (Sarah Megan Thomas) an American with a wooden leg, Vera Atkins (Stana Katic) a refugee settled in England and Noor Inayat Khan (Radhika Apte) an Indian-Russian princess and an expert wireless operator. Meet these ordinary women of star, writer and producer Sarah Megan Thomas in Lydia Dean Pilcher helmed A Call to Spy – a song of...
A Call to Spy will be streaming on Prime Video from December 11, 2020.
A Call to Spy review
Virginia Hall (Sarah Megan Thomas) an American with a wooden leg, Vera Atkins (Stana Katic) a refugee settled in England and Noor Inayat Khan (Radhika Apte) an Indian-Russian princess and an expert wireless operator. Meet these ordinary women of star, writer and producer Sarah Megan Thomas in Lydia Dean Pilcher helmed A Call to Spy – a song of...
- 12/10/2020
- by Vishal Verma
- GlamSham
Exploring the cultural sexism meted out to women during the second world war, this drama based on real people avoids cliche
‘Make sure they’re pretty,” a bespectacled Special Operations Executive wonk tells Vera Atkins, the Romanian born “spymistress” (played by Stana Katic) charged with building a network of French-speaking female undercover operatives in the early days of the second world war. Written by Sarah Megan Thomas and directed by Lydia Dean Pilcher, this is a righteously conceived drama designed to highlight the smothering sexism that greeted women’s contributions to the war effort, in particular anything that smacked of ambition above lowly clerical grades.
A Call to Spy zeroes in on two of Atkins’ real-life recruits, and takes its time spelling out their individual stories. Virginia Hall (played by writer Thomas) is an American embassy worker with a prosthetic foot seething at being denied a career as a diplomat,...
‘Make sure they’re pretty,” a bespectacled Special Operations Executive wonk tells Vera Atkins, the Romanian born “spymistress” (played by Stana Katic) charged with building a network of French-speaking female undercover operatives in the early days of the second world war. Written by Sarah Megan Thomas and directed by Lydia Dean Pilcher, this is a righteously conceived drama designed to highlight the smothering sexism that greeted women’s contributions to the war effort, in particular anything that smacked of ambition above lowly clerical grades.
A Call to Spy zeroes in on two of Atkins’ real-life recruits, and takes its time spelling out their individual stories. Virginia Hall (played by writer Thomas) is an American embassy worker with a prosthetic foot seething at being denied a career as a diplomat,...
- 10/22/2020
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
Writer and actress Sarah Megan Thomas had always been interested in World War II and spies. She had been wanting to tell a female spy story and heard about Winston Churchill’s female spies.
Diving in, Thomas found herself in a rabbit hole reading up on the secret British World War II organization, The Special Operations Executive (Soe), Thomas found herself writing about the unheard female heroes who gathered intel and created espionage in France.
In “A Call to Spy,” now streaming on demand, Thomas plays Virginia Hall, starring alongside Stana Katic who plays Vera Atkins and Radhika Apte (Noor Inayat Khan) as the trio of spies working to fight evil.
Thomas and production designer Kim Jennings talked about writing the script, telling an empowering female story, the importance of hiring females and creating World War II in modern-day Philadelphia.
It’s not very often we get to see stories about women during the war.
Diving in, Thomas found herself in a rabbit hole reading up on the secret British World War II organization, The Special Operations Executive (Soe), Thomas found herself writing about the unheard female heroes who gathered intel and created espionage in France.
In “A Call to Spy,” now streaming on demand, Thomas plays Virginia Hall, starring alongside Stana Katic who plays Vera Atkins and Radhika Apte (Noor Inayat Khan) as the trio of spies working to fight evil.
Thomas and production designer Kim Jennings talked about writing the script, telling an empowering female story, the importance of hiring females and creating World War II in modern-day Philadelphia.
It’s not very often we get to see stories about women during the war.
- 10/14/2020
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Chicago – When a prominent and influential producer made the transition into solo directing, she sought stories that matched her intuitive and natural passions. Lydia Dean Pilcher chose “A Call to Spy,” a World War II-era drama that focuses on three women who defied their obstacles and became early war heroes.
Ms. Pilcher is an activist for the environment, as well as diversity issues and women’s equality through her work as a producer and filmmaker. The script for “A Call to Spy” was written by the eventual lead actress in the film, Sarah Megan Thomas. Ms. Pilcher was drawn to it because of the themes of the women’s contributions to Britain’s World War II efforts, and their courage despite the skepticism of a system run by men.
’A Call to Spy,’ directed by Lydia Dean Pilcher (inset)
Photo credit: IFC Films
The film is based on real events...
Ms. Pilcher is an activist for the environment, as well as diversity issues and women’s equality through her work as a producer and filmmaker. The script for “A Call to Spy” was written by the eventual lead actress in the film, Sarah Megan Thomas. Ms. Pilcher was drawn to it because of the themes of the women’s contributions to Britain’s World War II efforts, and their courage despite the skepticism of a system run by men.
’A Call to Spy,’ directed by Lydia Dean Pilcher (inset)
Photo credit: IFC Films
The film is based on real events...
- 10/4/2020
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
As Nazi forces pushed ever closer to England in the summer of 1941, Prime Minister Winston Churchill had a wild idea: a new spy agency, the Special Operations Executive (known as the Soe), to gather intel, and spark sabotage, in and around France. That scheme might sound obvious on paper, but the Soe went decidedly outside the box when it came to not only its methodology, but also the people tasked with carrying it out: They included more than three dozen women. Lydia Dean Pilcher’s “A Call to Spy” follows three of those women, and while the shape of
Pilcher, best known for her producing work (including an Oscar nod for the documentary “Cutie and the Boxer”), appears intent on carving a niche in directing overlooked historical tales about fierce, real-life women. Later this year, her directorial debut “Radium Girls,” about a group of ’20s-era factory workers who advocated for safer conditions,...
Pilcher, best known for her producing work (including an Oscar nod for the documentary “Cutie and the Boxer”), appears intent on carving a niche in directing overlooked historical tales about fierce, real-life women. Later this year, her directorial debut “Radium Girls,” about a group of ’20s-era factory workers who advocated for safer conditions,...
- 10/1/2020
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
“A Call to Spy” braids the stories of three decorated WWII spies to reveal — and to revel in — their pivotal roles in British spy craft and history. The title may fall flat but the movie, a sturdy directorial debut for producer Lydia Dean Pilcher, gets to the heart of the matter. Even as they faced various forms of discrimination, Vera Atkins, Virginia Hall and Noor Inayat Khan responded boldly to the tug of duty. They served Britain, and
A scene of torture begins the film. The year is 1941, and Germany has invaded France. The person being interrogated is a woman. Soaked, gasping, she will not crumble. Turns out, she doesn’t have to. The woman is Hall (Sarah Megan Thomas), and to our relief, she’s undergoing the final test in her training. Three months earlier, the Special Operations Executive branch of the British government began recruiting “lady spies.” Winston Churchill...
A scene of torture begins the film. The year is 1941, and Germany has invaded France. The person being interrogated is a woman. Soaked, gasping, she will not crumble. Turns out, she doesn’t have to. The woman is Hall (Sarah Megan Thomas), and to our relief, she’s undergoing the final test in her training. Three months earlier, the Special Operations Executive branch of the British government began recruiting “lady spies.” Winston Churchill...
- 10/1/2020
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Radhika Apte is an actress who has given innumerable performances and has made a mark of her own in the industry.
Here are her top 5 timeless performances which will make you fall in love with her all over again.
View this post on Instagram
35...
Here are her top 5 timeless performances which will make you fall in love with her all over again.
View this post on Instagram
35...
- 9/8/2020
- by Glamsham Editorial
- GlamSham
Radhika Apte does it once again, aces two completely different genres and characters for her projects
Radhika Apte has won the heart of the audience by continuing to play unconventional characters one after the other and each one being very unique and different from the other. Radhika has done it once again and this time she has nailed two different genres, first one being the crime thriller Raat Akeli Hai and the second one being the upcoming spy-thriller, A Call To Spy.
Also Read: Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte starrer Raat Akeli Hai marks yet another successful venture for Ronnie Screwvala
The Radhika starrer Raat Akeli Hai alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui was released recently and saw her play the character of a Bride named Radha who is in the middle of a chaos. The actress nailed the role and once again took the spotlight with her mysterious character filled with layers...
Radhika Apte has won the heart of the audience by continuing to play unconventional characters one after the other and each one being very unique and different from the other. Radhika has done it once again and this time she has nailed two different genres, first one being the crime thriller Raat Akeli Hai and the second one being the upcoming spy-thriller, A Call To Spy.
Also Read: Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte starrer Raat Akeli Hai marks yet another successful venture for Ronnie Screwvala
The Radhika starrer Raat Akeli Hai alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui was released recently and saw her play the character of a Bride named Radha who is in the middle of a chaos. The actress nailed the role and once again took the spotlight with her mysterious character filled with layers...
- 8/26/2020
- by Glamsham Editorial
- GlamSham
"We need you as our first female field agent." IFC Films has released an official trailer for A Call to Spy, an indie spy drama from producer-turned-filmmaker Lydia Dean Pilcher. This is her second feature after directing Radium Girls, which is also about badass women from the past. In the beginning of WWII, with Britain becoming desperate, Churchill orders his new spy agency – the Special Operations Executive (aka Soe) – to recruit and train women as spies. Their mission: conduct sabotage and build a resistance, to help collect information about Nazis in France. Soe's "spymistress," Vera Atkins – who was the inspiration for Bond's Moneypenny – recruits two unusual candidates to be spies: Virginia Hall, an ambitious American with a wooden leg, and Noor Inayat Khan, a Muslim pacifist. Together, these women help to undermine the Nazi regime, leaving an unmistakable legacy in their wake. Starring Sarah Megan Thomas, Stana Katic, Radhika Apte,...
- 8/3/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The majority of war drama films focus on men serving their country in battle. In a refreshing change to the genre, ”A Call to Spy” puts women in the spotlight. The film focuses on the start of World War II, with Britain becoming increasingly desperate. Churchill starts up a new spy agency that solely recruits female candidates. Based on a true story, “A Call to Spy” follows two of those candidates named Virginia Hall and Noor Inayat Khan as they work together to undermine a Nazi regime in France.
Continue reading ‘A Call To Spy’ Trailer: New WWII Film Focuses On Churchill’s Female-Led Spy Agency at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘A Call To Spy’ Trailer: New WWII Film Focuses On Churchill’s Female-Led Spy Agency at The Playlist.
- 8/3/2020
- by Brynne Ramella
- The Playlist
Women rule the upcoming IFC Films release “A Call to Spy,” a World War II espionage thriller from Oscar-nominated director Lydia Dean Pilcher. Not only is the narrative centered on Winston Churchill’s female recruits thrust into a bold mission, but the production team is also dominated by women throughout. IndieWire shares the exclusive trailer for the film, which hits theaters and VOD on October 2, below.
Here’s the synopsis: “In the beginning of WWII, with Britain becoming desperate, Churchill orders his new spy agency — Soe — to recruit and train women as spies. Their daunting mission: conduct sabotage and build a resistance. Soe’s ‘spymistress’ Vera Atkins (Stana Katic of ‘Castle’), recruits two unusual candidates: Virginia Hall (Sarah Megan Thomas of ‘Equity’), an ambitious American with a wooden leg, and Noor Inayat Khan (Radhika Apte of ‘Sacred Games’), a Muslim pacifist. Together, these women help to undermine the Nazi regime in France,...
Here’s the synopsis: “In the beginning of WWII, with Britain becoming desperate, Churchill orders his new spy agency — Soe — to recruit and train women as spies. Their daunting mission: conduct sabotage and build a resistance. Soe’s ‘spymistress’ Vera Atkins (Stana Katic of ‘Castle’), recruits two unusual candidates: Virginia Hall (Sarah Megan Thomas of ‘Equity’), an ambitious American with a wooden leg, and Noor Inayat Khan (Radhika Apte of ‘Sacred Games’), a Muslim pacifist. Together, these women help to undermine the Nazi regime in France,...
- 8/2/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Exclusive: IFC Films has acquired North American rights to A Call to Spy, the feature directorial debut of Oscar nominated documentary producer Lydia Dean Pilcher about the unsung female heroes of WWII. IFC plans a fall release, Deadline has learned.
Produced, written by and starring Sarah Megan Thomas (Equity), who plays real-life American spy Virginia Hall, pic takes place at the onset of WWII when Winston Churchill ordered a new spy agency, the Special Operations Executive, to recruit and trains female spies. Their daunting mission: conduct sabotage and build a resistance. Soe’s “spymistress,” Vera Atkins (Stana Katic), recruits two unusual candidates: Hall, an ambitious American with a wooden leg, and Noor Inayat Khan (Radhika Atpe), a Muslim pacifist. Together, these women help to undermine the Nazi regime in France, leaving an unmistakable legacy in their wake. Atkins, later became the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond franchise.
Produced, written by and starring Sarah Megan Thomas (Equity), who plays real-life American spy Virginia Hall, pic takes place at the onset of WWII when Winston Churchill ordered a new spy agency, the Special Operations Executive, to recruit and trains female spies. Their daunting mission: conduct sabotage and build a resistance. Soe’s “spymistress,” Vera Atkins (Stana Katic), recruits two unusual candidates: Hall, an ambitious American with a wooden leg, and Noor Inayat Khan (Radhika Atpe), a Muslim pacifist. Together, these women help to undermine the Nazi regime in France, leaving an unmistakable legacy in their wake. Atkins, later became the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond franchise.
- 6/16/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
You wait a whole year for Doctor Who to come back and then two episodes reach our screens in one week. After debuting on New Year’s Day, season 12 continued this Sunday with the second part of “Spyfall.” It’s a good thing that we didn’t have to wait long for this episode, too, as the last one ended on a heck of a cliffhanger – with Sacha Dhawan’s O revealed to be the Master, the Doctor trapped in another dimension and her friends caught on a crashing, pilot-less plane. Thankfully, “Part 2” keeps up the adrenaline that the premiere injected into the show and ends up delivering one of the most robust installments of the Jodie Whittaker era so far.
In my review for “Part 1,” while largely positive about the episode, I noted that the pace dragged and it felt hard to justify the 65-minute runtime. Though “Part 2” clocks...
In my review for “Part 1,” while largely positive about the episode, I noted that the pace dragged and it felt hard to justify the 65-minute runtime. Though “Part 2” clocks...
- 1/5/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
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