Red Joan 2019

In the esteemed halls of Cambridge University, young Joan Smith immerses herself in the pursuit of physics, surrounded by a circle of like-minded individuals including her German-Jewish friends Sonya and Leo Galich. The cousins-turned-siblings share an unbreakable bond, forged through years of shared experiences and mutual trust. It is amidst this intellectual backdrop that Joan finds herself drawn to the intense and passionate nature of Leo.

Joan’s academic pursuits soon intersect with the wartime efforts of Britain’s Tube Alloys project, aimed at developing an atomic bomb. Here, she crosses paths with scientist Max (Max), whose intellectual rigor and unwavering dedication only serve to further captivate her. However, this budding romance is short-lived, as Leo attempts to recruit Joan to spy for the Soviet Union, prompting her to reject him and ultimately end their relationship, accusing him of exploiting her vulnerability.

As her feelings for Max deepen, she finds herself torn between her love for him and his desire to keep her at arm’s length, insisting that he wants a wife, not a mistress. The tragic events of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 serve as a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of nuclear warfare, leading Joan to question Britain’s proposed development of its own atomic bombs. In a bold move, she turns to her former friends Sonya and Leo, seeking to share vital information about the British nuclear program with the Soviet Union.

As the Cold War atmosphere of suspicion and paranoia intensifies, Joan finds herself struggling to navigate the treacherous landscape of espionage and counter-espionage. The tragic loss of life following Leo’s apparent suicide only serves to deepen her sense of betrayal, as she grapples with the revelation that Sonya’s child was indeed fathered by the late Galich.

In the aftermath of these events, Joan finds solace in Max, but their reunion is short-lived, as he is arrested and charged with espionage for the Soviets following the Soviet Union’s successful detonation of its first atomic bomb in 1949. During a poignant visit to Max in prison, she confesses her role in his arrest, prompting him to forgive her. With determination and cunning, Joan sets out to secure Max’s release by blackmailing Sir William Mitchell, a high-ranking diplomat and Soviet spy, effectively ending the cycle of betrayal and mistrust that has consumed their lives.

As the year 2000 unfolds, Joan’s life takes a drastic turn when she is apprehended and accused of espionage. The Scotland Yard detectives tasked with interrogating her prove relentless in their pursuit of truth, but Joan initially resists their probing, insisting that they misconstrue her existence. However, as the questioning wears on, Joan begins to yield, ultimately acknowledging that she had indeed shared classified information with the Soviets. The fallout is immediate and devastating: the tabloid press turns its vitriolic gaze upon her, branding her a traitor and dubbing her “Red Joan.” Her lawyer son, Nick Stanley (name), initially poised to defend his mother, is shocked into disavowal when he discovers the gravity of her transgressions. Yet, as Joan explains her motivations – a desperate bid to prevent nuclear weapons from being unleashed again – Nick’s perspective shifts. He finds himself recommitting to defending his mother, standing firmly by her side as she confronts the ravenous tabloid journalists clamoring for attention outside her home.