Films based on historical events are usually created to convey them to the current generation. However, this transmission does not always remain accurate. This essay aims to analyze the film Bridges of Spies, which reflects one of the Cold War episodes and investigates raised issues.
Since the film is based on actual events, it is logical that this work’s primary purpose is to reflect the historical scene. However, according to the authors, the film is fiction and not documentary work. Therefore, the portrayed events can be distorted for the sake of cinematography since the film is a historical drama (Wikipedia 2021). Consequently, the plot can deviate from reality in pursuit of other goals. In this case, the actual main goal is most likely to create a dramatic story of a man’s confrontation with the system.
For this purpose, the film does a great job thanks to its acting and a good script. The film shows James Donovan’s attempts, as a lawyer, to protect his client, Rudolf Abel, a Soviet spy, from a politically motivated court (Wikipedia 2021). Consequently, the first significant conflict is personal opposition to the system, which uses the law to its advantage. This theme continues and develops in later scenes when Donovan begins working for the US. Demonstrating his humanity, Donovan actively resists the aggressively-minded USSR in prisoners’ exchange, thereby continuing the central theme developed in the film.
The film, first of all, shows that stage of the Cold War, when both sides actively used scouts and spies, trying to find out as much information about the enemy as possible. Besides, Steven Spielberg’s work reflects the Soviet regime showing the partition of Berlin and the Berlin Wall’s construction (Wikipedia 2021). However, as mentioned above, the film is not a documentary; therefore, the events’ shown somewhat contradict history. For example, the ban on the restoration of Berlin is mentioned, which was not mentioned in any documents. Besides, both the negative public attitudes towards lawyer Donovan and Frederick Pryor’s situation are incorrectly shown. In subsequent interviews, Pryor actively noted inconsistencies, emphasizing that reality and cinema did not coincide. However, such a director’s decision has a clear goal — to display a picture of what happened to an ordinary citizen of the USA. It is sporadic in Hollywood films to have the USSR represented positively. Bridges of Spies is no exception, demonstrating the brutality of the Soviet regime even in aspects in which it did not exist.
Thus, this film is a good work of fiction; however, it does not correspond to reality. Steven Spielberg’s approach to displaying events, the participants of which are still alive, stimulates several thoughts. First of all, there is disrespect of Hollywood toward historical circumstances and personalities. Secondly, the film’s plot is influenced by American propaganda against the USSR. Although there are only a few inconsistencies, a distorted image of the Soviet Union is created. Nevertheless, the film remains a worthy work from an artistic perspective, which should be perceived as fiction, not a documentary film.
Reference
Wikipedia. 2021. “Bridge of Spies (film).” Web.