Synopsis

The Courier is a true-life spy thriller, the story of an unassuming British businessman Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) recruited into one of the greatest international conflicts in history. At the behest of the UK’s MI-6 and a CIA operative (Rachel Brosnahan), he forms a covert, dangerous partnership with Soviet officer Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze) in an effort to provide crucial intelligence needed to prevent a nuclear confrontation and defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis.

We are very pleased to have a Q&A session with Director Dominic Cooke which will follow the 7.30pm screening at approximately 9.30pm

Dominic Cooke is a writer, producer and theatre and film director. He was Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the Royal Court Theatre 2006 to 2013 during which time he pioneered new writing by actively promoting the Royal Court’s Young Writers’ Programme and staged numerous new plays, refocussing the aims of the theatre.

Dominic is a National Theatre Associate Director making his directing debut there in November 2011 with Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors which he set in modern-day London and directed the critically acclaimed production of August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom in 2016 which won the 2015 Olivier Award for Best Revival. His 2017 production of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s Follies was nominated for ten Olivier Awards, winning Best Musical Revival and he  received the Critics’ Circle Best Director Award.

His TV directorial debut was in May 2016 with the second BBC TV series of The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses, televised in three parts: (Henry VI Part 1, Henry VI Part 2, and Richard III). and starred Benedict Cumberbatch, Judi Dench, Sophie Okonedo, Tom Sturridge, and Hugh Bonneville.

Dominic Cooke’s feature film directorial debut, On Chesil Beach starring Saoirse Ronan and Billy Howle, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 7 September 2017 and was chosen by Variety as one of the ten best films at the  festival. It was shown at Stockbridge Community Cinema in May 2018 followed by a Q&A session with Dominic and the film’s producers Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Wooley. The Courier is his second feature film as director.

Critics Views

“The Courier is almost two films in one: the second half is much darker and more intense than the first, but the shift is so delicately abrupt that at first you barely register it. That’s part of the movie’s edgily engaging artistry…”
Time magazine

“Admit it: After a year of looking over your shoulder any time someone dared cough, you could use a good, old-fashioned Cold War thriller…”
Globe and Mail

“Benedict Cumberbatch proves yet again he’s a star and Merab Ninidze is equally brilliant at his Russian counterpart.”
Alan Ng

“A confident, entertaining, and well-upholstered historical spy thriller about a regular guy who stumbles his way toward saving the world, it’s the perfect movie for anyone who watched “Bridge of Spies” and thought: “If only that had been 30 minutes shorter, a bit less artful, and a lot more British.”
IndieWire

Awards

British Independent Film Awards: Best Supporting Actor (Merab Ninidze)

Film Rating

IMDb
 Critics: 64%  Audience 71%

Rotten Tomatoes
Critics positive review 69%   Audience Liked It 95%

 Stockbridge Audience Score: 97%

Audience Comments

Intense last quarter and moving
There wasn’t a rustle in the audience – we were spellbound.
A spellbinding film telling a true story brilliantly. Great performances by Benedict Cumberbatch and Mehrab Ninidze.
Dramatic and interesting
I like the preamble to the film.
Brilliant acting on a true story
Very enjoyable
Gripping. Stayed with me for hours after
Longer than expected
Very well acted and directed.
Hard to hear the dialogue at times
Well acted
Beautifully acted and directed
Beautifully filmed and very evocative of that era.
Fascinating and engaging portrayal of Cold War episode during our lifetime. Cumberbatch formidable.
A truly wonderful film, and stunning performance by Cumberbatch.
A very strong performance by Benedict Cumberbatch, with an excellent supporting cast.
As the director said, focusing on Greville was an excellent way to bring the viewer into the film.
Excellent film and fantastic to have the additional private interview with the director. Well done Paul
Captivating from start to finish.
Another brilliant performance from Benedict Cumberbatch.
Beautifully made, and thrilling film with superb performances from all the main protagonists
Really enjoyed this one. Solid storytelling believable and great performances especially DC.
Hope benedict Cumberbatch gets an Oscar for his performance!
Brilliant acting. Well paced. Felt true to reality though I’ve no idea if that’s the case.
First class espionage thriller!
Thank you for taking the trouble and time to record the Q&A which was fascinating
Would a scene(s) where KGB pondered whether to kill Greville (not a name you hear often now) or keep him alive for a possible trade or an eventual confession might have kept the tension up a little…
A real feeling of 1960’s tension which sadly I remember well
Exciting and believable
Brilliant choice! Dark but not brutal. Dominic masterful.
Thoroughly enjoyed this – hadn’t appreciated it was a true story.
Good blend of emotion and tension
Excellent, interview with Dominic Cooke an added bonus
Very much enjoyed the recorded Q&A session with the Director. It definitely provided a fascinating insight into the production and filming of this excellent film. Thank you, Paul.
The Q&A was a very good ‘saving measure’ in the director’s unexpected absence. Much appreciated.
Very much enjoyed post-film Zoom session with Director – interesting and informative both on ‘The Courier’ and general process of direction.