Farewell (2009 film)

Farewell is a 2009 French espionage thriller film directed by Christian Carion, starring Guillaume Canet and Emir Kusturica. The film is loosely based on the real-life Farewell affair, a Cold War espionage operation in which a high-ranking KGB officer, code-named "Farewell" by French intelligence, provided valuable information to France and the West, ultimately contributing to the decline of the Soviet Union.

The film depicts Sergei Grigoriev (played by Emir Kusturica), a disenchanted KGB engineer who secretly begins passing sensitive Soviet technological and strategic information to Pierre Froment (played by Guillaume Canet), a French engineer stationed in Moscow. Froment, initially reluctant, becomes the intermediary between Grigoriev and French intelligence, specifically a high-ranking agent played by Diane Kruger. The information, including details about the Soviet Union's global espionage network and its advanced military technologies, is then shared with the United States, including President Ronald Reagan (played by Fred Ward).

The film explores themes of disillusionment with ideology, the human cost of the Cold War, the complexities of espionage, and the unlikely friendship that develops between Grigoriev and Froment. It highlights the risks involved for both men and their families, as the KGB begins to suspect a leak within its ranks.

While the film takes liberties with the historical details for dramatic effect, it captures the essence of the Farewell affair and its significance in shaping the final years of the Cold War. It received generally positive reviews, with praise for its performances, direction, and suspenseful narrative.