The Operative 2019

Thomas, portrayed by Martin Freeman, is a former Mossad intelligence agent of British-Jewish descent, who retired a year prior to the film’s events. Despite his retirement, he still possesses access to certain systems and resources of his old agency. His life takes an unexpected turn when he receives a mysterious phone call from Rachel, played by Diane Kruger, a former agent he had recruited and counted as a friend, but who has since vanished without a trace. He finds himself summoned to a safe house in Cologne to uncover Rachel’s whereabouts and her underlying motives.

As he begins this investigation, Thomas reflects on Rachel’s recruitment and previous missions through a series of engaging flashbacks. One of the stand-out moments from her past shows her last assignment, where she disguised herself as an English teacher in Tehran, tasked with observing Farhad Razavi, portrayed by Cas Anvar, the heir to a prominent Iranian electronics company.

The flashbacks delve into Rachel’s gradual integration into the rhythms of everyday life in Tehran, ensuring she doesn’t attract any undue attention. Eventually, she and Farhad develop a romantic connection, where he entrusts her with teaching him English, while also introducing her to the vibrant underground nightlife of the city.

However, Rachel’s deepening relationship with Farhad places her in a complicated situation as Thomas attempts to leverage her position. He seeks to involve Farhad in the smuggling of components pertinent to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, an operation that could undermine this program and potentially turn Farhad into a key Mossad asset. This high-profile mission, however, places Rachel’s safety at grave risk, leading her to ultimately resist her directives. She takes the bold step of altering her identity and severs communications with Thomas, rendering him helpless until the present day when she reaches out for his assistance once more.

Now, Rachel wrestles with the need to reclaim her life, all while knowing she could be marked for assassination, as her existence may now pose a security threat to those around her.