Farewell (L’Affaire Farewell) is a compelling, mostly low-key spy drama by director Christian Carion (Joyeux Noel). The film, set in the '80s, focuses on two men: Grigoriev (Emir Kusturica), a Russian government man who is disenchanted under Leonid Brezhnev and decides to begin passing secrets to the West, and Pierre (Guillaume Canet), a mild-mannered Frenchman employed in Russia. Pierre is enlisted to deal directly with Grigoriev. Both men have families, and both are, of course, put in great danger by the end.

As with many serious-minded spy films, espionage is a middle-aged company man's burden in Farewell. The film is fascinated with John le Carré-evoking details--small cameras, messages written on mirrors, tense meetings in cramped cars on rainy streets--as well as how taxing a life of constant deception and paranoia can become. Kusturica and Canet both deliver understated, engaging performances. The former is particularly impressive as the dowdy, heavyset, and melancholy Grigoriev.

The only major misstep here are the English-language scenes, including a highly distracting performance by Fred Ward as Ronald Reagan. The on-the-ground spy material rings so true, but Ward's scenes reminded me of Oliver Stone's disappointing W. They are completely unnecessary.

B