MANIFF Saturday: Damascus Cover
| 5th March 2018
Damascus Cover, eventual winner of the Best English Language film this weekend, was screened Saturday at Manchester Film Festival. Starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Mission Impossible III, The Tudors) as Ari Ben-Zion. Ari is a spy in a more realistic world; this is certainly no James Bond. He struggles through fight sequences, makes mistakes and is definitely not infallible.
Directed and written by Daniel Zelik Berk, the film is a relatively by-the-numbers thriller, but it is crafted well enough, with good performances throughout, that it is easy to get engrossed in. Whilst some of the quick-fire twists require a second viewing with some hindsight, it’s an exciting watch first time through.
Best Actor – Jonathan Rhys Meyers for Damascus Cover
— Manchester Film Fest (@ManIFFofficial) March 4, 2018
The final film of the late John Hurt, who features in a memorable supporting role Miki, the head of German intelligence. The film is a genuinely shocking thriller with a dollop of great character moments to boot.
Really enjoyed Damascus Cover. Period spy thrillers are terrific. Here is the star: pic.twitter.com/9NQmLLyWZi
— Dominic Hastings (@ThisIsTheDom) March 3, 2018
The female lead, Olivia Thirlby (Dredd, Juno) as the journalist Kim, has in depth characterisation and fantastic chemistry with Rhys Meyers without her character relying on his.
Based off the novel of the same name, first published in 1977 this story still stands out in 2018. There’s slight updates to the plot, but the historical setting really makes the film work.