Farewell (L'affaire Farewell) (2009)

85% of critics liked it
(74 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(4,218 ratings)

An espionage agent begins working against his own country for the good of the world in this drama based on a true story. Sergei Grigoriev (Emir Kusturica) is a Soviet intelligence operative who has become deeply disillusioned with life under Communism -- while he believes in the ideals the U.S.S.R.… More An espionage agent begins working against his own country for the good of the world in this drama based on a true story. Sergei Grigoriev (Emir Kusturica) is a Soviet intelligence operative who has become deeply disillusioned with life under Communism -- while he believes in the ideals the U.S.S.R. was founded upon, he feels they have been become hopelessly compromised by their current leadership, and that the old government must be brought down for the sake of future generations. With this in mind, Grigoriev strikes up a friendship with Pierre Froment (Guillaume Canet), a French engineer who is living and working in Moscow and has no idea his new pal is a spy. Once Grigoriev has gained Froment's confidence, he begins passing classified documents along to Froment with the understanding that they will then be forwarded to French intelligence. It soon becomes clear that what Grigoriev has to share are American state secrets and classified scientific documents confirming the KGB has been digging deep into U.S. security; when the CIA finds out just how much the Russians know, it sparks an international incident and fierce reprisals against the U.S.S.R. Directed by Christian Carion, L'Affaire Farewell (aka Farewell) was based on the true story of KGB agent Vladimir Vetrov; the film also stars Fred Ward, Willem Dafoe, and David Soul. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 53 min.
Directed By: Christian Carion
Written By: Christian Carion
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jul 23, 2010 Wide
On DVD: Apr 12, 2011
Studio: Neoclassic Films

Critic Reviews

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
A smart and suspenseful thriller, but one that's grounded in the reality of the world we all live in -- whether we're spies or engineers.
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
Carion might have found a more artful way to dramatize the case's geopolitical impact, but this is still pretty interesting stuff.
David Hines, Dallas Morning News
This cool, understated French thriller might just become one of the best film-based excuses to escape the swelter of summer.
Ty Burr, Boston Globe
Beware the thriller whose characters are more naive than the audience.
Rachel Saslow, Washington Post
There's a reason nobody made a movie about the 1983 bust of Soviet spies with the code name "Farewell" until now: It's too bloody complicated.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Farewell has something you don't see very often: an endorsement blurb from Ronald Reagan himself...
Eric Melin, Scene-Stealers.com
Keeping the story focused on the personal sacrifices of the two men involved [is] a smart strategy because it makes their secret correspondence even more fraught with danger.
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
Carion's film admirably resists overselling the material: it's an adult espionage film, with no comic-book theatrics. [Blu-ray]
Graham Young, Birmingham Mail
Directed by Christian Caron, Farewell is full of great cinematic moments...
Roz Laws, Birmingham Post
This witty and gripping thriller is really worth a look.
Norm Schrager, Filmcritic.com
... a history lesson that's occasionally monotone, but has moments of narrative depth and color.
Victoria Alexander, FilmsInReview.com
Fascinating little-known spy story.
Alistair Harkness, Scotsman
An intriguingly low-key Cold War thriller.
Philip French, Guardian [UK]
It is a richly intriguing tale about high intrigue, though at times a trifle uncertain...
Allan Hunter, Daily Express
The story of friendship and sacrifice is told in an unfussy, old-fashioned manner but director Christian Carion creates some tense moments and secures game performances...
Cath Clarke, Guardian [UK]
This is a satisfyingly sober thriller, almost melancholy in tone - and as morally complex as a John Le Carré novel.
David Aldridge, Radio Times
It's a compelling story of how one disillusioned idealist helped change the world - and all for a Sony Walkman and some Queen cassettes!
Alice Levick, Little White Lies
The tale of a truly fascinating but little-known espionage operation is told with panache and a dynamic central pairing.
Derek Malcolm, This is London
Makes for a more original thriller than most, with the saving graces of irony and humour.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Impressively directed and superbly written, this is a fascinating and gripping story that packs a powerful emotional punch, thanks to a pair of terrific central performances from Guillaume Canet and Emir Kusturica.

Read all 26 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Ross C

Modern take on the cold war spy thriller genre. Works really thanks to the odd-ball couple of Emir Kusturica and Guillaume Canet, plus the director has penchant for writing sentimental stories about engineers. Apparently this true story is so sensitive that no Russians were allowed to… More
Modern take on the cold war spy thriller genre. Works really thanks to the odd-ball couple of Emir Kusturica and Guillaume Canet, plus the director has penchant for writing sentimental stories about engineers. Apparently this true story is so sensitive that no Russians were allowed to perform and the film makers weren't allowed to film in Russia!
Jennifer X

I guess, if you're into this sort of thing, it could be called a good movie. I don't have much to say about this one. It's...subtle? I was just proud that I recognized Emir Kusturica in something else at some point, and it was because of this film!
Bill C

The soviets leaderships inability to believe-in and the reinvest in there their own R&D was the real end of there reign and the falling of the wall. Emir Kusturica plays an altruistic KGB assistant section chief at a ultra secure center for processing all KGB intelligence. Due… More
The soviets leaderships inability to believe-in and the reinvest in there their own R&D was the real end of there reign and the falling of the wall. Emir Kusturica plays an altruistic KGB assistant section chief at a ultra secure center for processing all KGB intelligence. Due to his position he knows the enormity of the KGB's total infiltration into every foreign powers diplomatic and information gathering services. He chooses Guillaume Canet an engineer with no background in espionage, because the KGB considers him one of the few foreigners in Moscow not being trailed by the KGB. This is no James Bond spies story its just two relatively normal guys trying to save the world for their families. Willem Dafoe plays a minor part up until the end as a head CIA something or another. But the scene at the end is a must see. One note that detracts from the movie is it bounces between French-English and Russian spoken language and the french translation move by at a mile a minute, really hard to keep up with.
Kyle S

A very solid and competent political and historical thriller.