Little Drummer Girl

This is another John LeCarre spy movie. It is the second time it has been done. The first was done in 1984 with Diane Keeton in the leading role. The current incarnation was released in 2018 on AMC as a made for TV miniseries. The 1984 movie was light on plot, left important elements of the story either out entirely, or twisted beyond recognition. However, given the six hours in six episodes that concern is mostly eliminated with the 2018 production.



What is not left out is LeCarre hostility for the State of Israel and his apologies for Palestinian terrorism. That element is present in both movies and his book. So, it is the evil Jews of Mossad and the noble heroic freedom fighters of the PLA. Some viewers may find it difficult to get beyond the obvious political statement but there is a surprise for the observant viewer.



With the possible exception of the Quest for Karla novels and TV series. The Little Drummer Girl revolves around how real-world intelligence operations were, and sometimes still are, run by all intelligence agencies, ours and others. Follow the evaluation, recruitment and field work of Charlie as she slowly infiltrates a PLA terror group and the lengths her handler and case officer go to keep her alive and on task. In spite of the technological wonders available to the modern spy, human intel is thee most difficult to acquire and maintain.



This my friends, is the way it works. Some success, some failure, regrouping, changing strategy and focusing on the goal and every minute the officer in the field is at risk. There is always the risk that an agent has turned, either bought off or falls to the propaganda of the other side. Or they will make a critical mistake and be immediately executed.



The tactics used by Mossad in Little Drummer Girl are no different than those used around the world. Mossad is not evil for using them any more then out CIA or Russian FSB. Intelligence when done correctly leaves no traces, no marks and no paper trail. A good intelligence operation is wraithlike with only a trace in the air that evaporates. This kind operation was the specialty of James Angleton. Watch Little Drummer Girl for the tradecraft. It is available on Amazon subscription to Sundance channel.



Don’t get wrapped in the rather thin plot. Boy recruit’s girl to spy, girl falls in love with recruiter, accepts recruitment, gets in some trouble over a larger opposition plot, is almost killed and ultimately finds true happiness with recruiter.