Product Description

Based on the true story of Elie Cohen, Israel's national hero, whose daring mission took him from Argentina to Damascus where he successfully entered the upper echelons of the Syrian government. The secrets he obtained became crucial in Israel's victory in the 1967 Six-Day War. A portrait of spies and spying that is as chilling as it is compelling, and as riveting as any James Bond adventure. The legendary Elie Cohen was persuaded to become a secret agent and ended up leading a double life -- as a mild-mannered husband and father in Israel, and as a wealthy businessman who infiltrated the highest levels of the Syrian government. Incredibly, Cohen was so successful that he was nominated to be the Defense Minister of Syria. The story begins in 1959. Cohen was a family man leading a quiet, normal life working as an accountant in Tel Aviv when he is recruited by Israel's Mossad secret service and assigned a mission that would forever change his life, and the history of Israel. John Shea ("Missing," "Lois and Clark," "Baby M") delivers a riveting performance as Elie Cohen whose mission took him from Argentina, where he established a new identity as a wealthy Syrian businessman, to Damascus. Risking his life at every turn, Cohen's guile and fluency in Arabic enables him to climb to the upper echelons of the Syrian government and gain access to the most vital secrets of the enemy's military machine. This top-secret information, which he related to Israeli intelligence, became a crucial element in Israel's victory in the 1967 Six-Day War. Eli Wallach ("Baby Doll," "The Misfits," "Tough Guys") co-stars in this explosive account of intrigue and espionage in the volatile Middle East. 2005 was the 40th anniversary year of Elie Cohen's death (May 18, 1965) June 5-11, 2007 will be the 40th Anniversary of The Six-Day War--for which Elie Cohen's mission was substantially responsible for the quick victory.

Review

Like so many docudramas, The Impossible Spy comes packaged with a list of qualifications. While the script, credited to Marty Ross and Douglas Livingstone, is based on published sources and other research, a printed preface notes that where direct evidence is unavailable, the film represents the opinion of the film makers as to events that happened in secret. Furthermore, the names of all Syrian and Mossad officials, as well as some locations, have been changed. And then, according to a press release: The final script was studied by Israel s military censor to guarantee that nothing compromised security. When, one wonders, does a docudrama become outright fiction or propaganda? Still The Impossible Spy co-produced by Graham Massey and directed by Jim Goddard, who previously collaborated on the mini-series Reilly: Ace of Spies turns out to be more complex than might be anticipated, compiling a portrait of spies and spying that is as chilling as it is compelling. Elie Cohen turns out to be the hero, of course, but a considerable measure of sympathy is generated for the Syrian general whose trust he betrays. The business of spying is ambiguous and hardly glamorous. --New York Times

The Impossible Spy is a First-Rate film that is genuinely based on truth. It s a story that no one could make up. John Shea stars as Elie Cohen, Israel s real-life James Bond who had amazing success spying in Syria in the 1960s which helped Israel win the June 1967 Six-Day War. And, Eli Wallach co-stars as the Head of Israel s intelligence agency. This is a suspense-filled drama that figures so importantly in the history of Israel. --Leonard Maltin

A marvelous film told in the grand tradition of a John Le Carre novel. Shea is simply terrific in the role of Elie Cohen. This is a top-notch thriller made all the more so by its factual basis. --Chicago Sun-Times