Richy Maria Jacob
‘Wasp Network’ directed by Olivier Assayas is based on the true story of five Cubans who were held as political prisoners well over a decade. Starring Edgar Ramirez, Penélope Cruz, and Gael Garcia Bernal, the film delivers every element of an espionage thriller. The complicated political narrative of the film is highlighted through the infiltration of the US and observing the anti-Castro paramilitary group. Thus, every second of the film is ridden with much suspense and tension. If you have watched the film, and is now on the lookout for something as politically intense as ‘Wasp Network,’ here are some other films you may like. You can watch many of these movies like Wasp Network on Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime.
6. The Angel (2018)
‘The Angel’ is an Israeli-American film that revolves around an Egyptian official, named Ashraf (Marwan Kenzari). The film begins with the Six-Day War in 1967. It has an even blend of several socio-political elements and highlights them through the internal struggles of its characters. Interestingly, the film also captures the personal aspects of the protagonist’s life. Thus, serving a balance between the two, it swings forward as a worthwhile political thriller.
5. Munich (2005)
Starring actors like Eric Bana, and Daniel Craig, the film is set amidst 1972, Summer Olympics, wherein the Munich Massacre took place. Thus, the film starts with a specialized mission to kill the 11 Palestinians involved in the massacre. The Steven Spielberg film is polished and erases the raw elements of a massacre through its cinematic pitch. Nonetheless, it interweaves fiction and facts to create a politically charged thriller unlike many.
4. Smoke & Mirrors (2016)
Directed by Alberto Rodríguez, ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ is a Spanish political thriller, that follows Francisco Paesa (Eduard Fernández), who is an ex-secret agent for the Spanish Government. Paesa was an instrumental figure in the operation against the Basque terrorist group, however, he is later framed by his government and exiled from the country. Upon returning, he has one too many issues, that range from personal problems to boiling revenge. The film is based on the non-fiction book, ‘Paesa, el espía de las mil caras’ penned by Manuel Cerdán.
3. Bridge of Spies (2015)
‘Bridge of Spies’ is a historical drama, in which Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance) is caught for spying for the Soviet Union. An insurance lawyer named James (Tom Hanks) is assigned to defend Rudolf. James manages not to get a death penalty for Rudolf and is committed to his client, however, he is soon beckoned by powerful political forces asking him to spill secrets breaching client-attorney confidentiality. Upon declining, James finds himself as a target of harassment, which also looms over as a threat to his family. The film goes deep but does not keep its viewers out of the loop.
2. Argo (2012)
‘Argo’ like ‘Wasp Network’ is very much based on a political situation from the past. The film directed by Ben Affleck is based on the 1979 hostage situation in the US Embassy in Tehran, Iran. Tony Mendes (Ben Affleck), an exfiltration specialist is tasked with rescuing the hostages from the embassy. He gathers a specialized team and arrives at Iran in the guise of a Hollywood film crew.
The film first gives a brief socio-political account of the country before it even moves forward to its plot. This enables the viewers to be informed about historical facts that are required to understand the film. Thus the politically intense film definitely has its moments, and won’t disappoint.
1. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Rising to the top of the list is ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,’ which is inspired by several true events. It follows a retired spy, named George (Gary Oldman) who is called by the Government to look into a case. It is told to him that there may be a Soviet spy, at the top rung of the British Secret Service. George was forced out after a disastrous mission in Hungary, that ended up in the death of a colleague. Set during the historically important time period of the Cold War, the film is as intense as it gets.
Read More: Best Political Movies
