Red Joan is like a collage of 1940s Britain from every other movie

HIDING so deep undercover in this British spy drama that you might not be aware of its existence is a brilliant story.

Dame Judi Dench plays an elderly woman called Joan Stanley who gets a knock on the door from some very concerned Special Branch officers saying she’s being arrested for handing over state secrets.

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The film then flits back and forth to Joan’s younger self, played unconvincingly by Kingsman’s Sophie Cookson.

The youthful Joan is a Cambridge science student working on the atom bomb who gets caught up with dastardly, yet handsome Russian agent Leo played with volcanic smoulder by Tom Hughes.

Cue reds on the beds as Joan first sleeps with Leo and then her married boss.

It’s entertaining enough, but director Trevor Nunn creates a collage of 1940s Britain pulled together from every other movie you’ve seen set during in that era.

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There’s cigarettes, cardigans, playful tumbles on perfectly cut lawns and characters telling each other “I’m not brave like you” in clipped accents.

It also bears little resemblance to the real story of unrepentant suburban KGB spy Melita Norwood that “inspired” the movie - one that would have certainly provided more surprises.

Red Joan (12A)

★★☆☆☆