TELEVISION / BRIEFING: Curse of the mean beret
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The daughter of the Czechoslovakian President, an earnest young woman in a beret, comes to Britain to court support for her country. And what does she most desire on this diplomatic mission? 'To meet Mrs Thatcher.' Unfortunately, the rest of AN EXCHANGE OF FIRE (10pm C4), writer/director Tony Bicat's two- part post-Cold War thriller, is not quite so entertaining. The plot turns on the attempted kidnap of Olga (Clare Woodgate), said daughter, by a cell of funny-mask- wearing Czech separatist terrorists led by Frank Finlay. Walking out of the same building wearing the same beret, Anne (Juliette Caton), the daughter of a media academic (James Fleet), is mistakenly abducted instead. The academic then has to agonise about breaking his own principles; he has written a book on the dangers of giving in to terrorism. The theme of compromised idealism is intriguing enough, and some amusing flourishes adorn the main picture. But the dialogue sometimes sounds like a stilted translation from the original Czech; in offering to exchange herself for Anne, Olga declares: 'Besides, what is my safety in comparison to that of our country?'
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments