What influence did the actual spy incident have on “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”?

le Carré's unique gaze on traitors

What I find interesting is that in various interviews (including the bonus footage on the DVD), Le Carré has said that "the character Smiley is a reflection of my former self." Of course, Smiley and Le Carré have very different positions in the organization, but as people working in the same profession, they must have had a sense of loneliness, pride, work ethic, way of looking at things, and way of thinking that only they could understand. Here we can see a "mirror."

And one more, " The Life of John le Carré, Vol. 1, In "The Conflict of Hope: Part 2 " (by Adam Syzman, published by Hayakawa Publishing), Le Carré discusses in various ways how he himself perceived and speculated about Kim Philby's betrayal, which shocked the entire nation. I'll pick out a part that particularly struck me:

"David (Le Carré's real name) saw Philby as a 'sharer of the secret' and believed he could well have become like Philby. Though he never met Philby, he understood his motives because he could see himself in him. Like David, Philby had a Monster father. Like David, Philby felt alienated within his organisation."

To me, this passage had a complex flavor that was somehow similar to that of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, one that could not be classified as anger, sadness, or pity.

"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" (C) 2011 Karla Films Ltd - Paradis Films sarl - Kinowelt Filmproduktion GmbH. All rights reserved. Photos: Jack ENGLISH (C)2010 STUDIOCANAL SA. All rights reserved.

Then it occurred to me that the climax of the story, when the traitor and Smiley confront each other, might have been a pseudo-face-to-face meeting between Philby and Le Carré, who never met in the real world.

It's "another mirror." The perspective of suddenly catching a glimpse of oneself in the person he has been chasing and cornering seems to elevate this film beyond a simple, two-dimensional spy hunt into a deeper human drama. This may be one of the reasons why this film has been loved by many fans throughout the ages, from its creation to the present day.

Text: USHIZU ATSUNOBU

Born in Nagasaki in 1977. When he was 3 years old, he saw ``Superman II'' with his father and became fascinated with movies. After The Graduate from Meiji University, he worked for a movie broadcasting channel and then became a movie writer. Currently, in addition to writing for Eiga.com, EYESCREAM, Real Sound Movie Club, etc., he also contributes to media press and theater programs.

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"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" DVD & Blu-ray now on sale

DVD 1,200 yen (excluding tax) Blu-ray 1,800 yen (excluding tax)

Publisher: Gaga Distributor: Happinet

(C) 2011 Karla Films Ltd - Paradis Films sarl - Kinowelt Filmproduktion GmbH. All rights reserved. Photos: Jack ENGLISH (C)2010 STUDIOCANAL SA. All rights reserved.