Bridge of Spies (film)

Bridge of Spies is a 2015 historical legal thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Matt Charman, Ethan Coen, and Joel Coen. The film stars Tom Hanks as James B. Donovan, an American lawyer who is tasked with negotiating the release of captured American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers in exchange for convicted Soviet spy Rudolf Abel, played by Mark Rylance.

The film is set during the Cold War and is loosely based on the 1960 U-2 incident and its aftermath. It follows Donovan as he defends Abel in court, facing public animosity and accusations of treason, and then later as he travels to Berlin to arrange the prisoner exchange at the Glienicke Bridge (nicknamed the "Bridge of Spies").

Bridge of Spies explores themes of duty, patriotism, justice, and the complexities of international relations during the Cold War. It received critical acclaim, particularly for the performances of Hanks and Rylance, and was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, winning Best Supporting Actor for Rylance. The film was praised for its historical accuracy, suspenseful narrative, and Spielberg's direction.