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What if the spy was the only one NOT in on the joke?
TMDB
100
Watch(US)

Soft Targets (1982)

Cold War absurdismposh British chaosintellectual farce

Overview

ComedyDramaTV MovieThriller

Stephen Poliakoff's parody of the spy-thriller genre. A Russian diplomat becomes convinced that he is at the centre of a Foreign Office plot.

Flag of GBGB
Content warning
spyparanoiacold warlondon, englandsuicide attemptsoviet unionwedding party
paranoia as comedybureaucratic incompetenceidentity dissolutionEast-West mutual incomprehension

Standout Aspects

Acting

Ian Holm's exquisite panic meets Helen Mirren's glacial knowingness

Writing

Poliakoff's script weaponizes manners against suspense

Best for:Solo: When you want to feel smarter than the characters (you will)·Rewatch: Spot all the diplomatic irony you missed first time
Charles Sturridge

Director

Charles Sturridge

ReleasedOct 19, 1982
Runtime1h 15m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady
Intensitymedium
Tonemixed
Feellight
BBC

Top Cast

Ian Holm

Ian Holm

Alexei

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren

Celia

Nigel Havers

Nigel Havers

Harman

Celia Gregory

Celia Gregory

Frances

Margery Mason

Margery Mason

Celia's Mother

Thorley Walters

Thorley Walters

Old Wedding Guest

Tony Doyle

Tony Doyle

Kirby

Chris Langham

Chris Langham

Drinkwater

Rupert Everett

Rupert Everett

Boy at Party

Julian Sands

Julian Sands

Groom

Desmond Llewelyn

Desmond Llewelyn

Official in Dream

Kay Adshead

Kay Adshead

Hotel Waitress

Ask about Soft Targets

Opens AI chat

Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Cultural

Made during the final freeze of the Cold War, Poliakoff's TV movie anticipated the 'posh incompetence' genre later perfected by Armando Iannucci.

Trivia

Helen Mirren and Charles Sturridge would reunite for 'The Missionary' (1982)—apparently 1982 was their year for skewering British institutions.

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