The Sympathizer (TV series) — Review
THE SYMPATHIZER was Adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name and the series has been superbly brought to life by the director Park Chan-wook (Most famous for the excellent Korean film OLDBOY). Much like the novel (which I recommended in my article ‘The Best 5 Unique Spy Novels’), THE SYMPATHIZER refuses to spoon-feed its audience. Instead, it beckons viewers to embark on a cerebral journey through a labyrinth of identity and imperialism told through a clever espionage story.
Source: IMDB.com
The story is told through the eyes of the anonymous Captain in the form of a confession of his past. This is the same as the book, with the narrator leading us through the action. The Captain, played by Aussie Hoa Xuande is excellent as the half-French, half-Vietnamese anonymous Captain who acts as assistant, driver, and confidant to a South Vietnamese General. Yet, beneath this facade, he is really a clandestine agent to the Communist North, relying vital information in invisible ink back to his superiors in Hanoi via France.
The setting of the series begins in Saigon months before its inevitable fall and then dances across epochs, recounting childhood and previous episodes from the Captain’s life and follows his journey to Los Angeles among exiled former South Vietnamese army officers.
Robert Downey Jr. brings his signature brand of electrifying charisma, donning a multitude of prosthetic disguises that would make even the most seasoned spy envious. His magnetic presence is felt throughout the series, infusing each scene with a palpable intensity that keeps viewers guessing until the very end.
From the war-torn streets of Vietnam to the neon-lit alleys of Los Angeles, the boundaries between truth and deception blur, mirroring the fractured psyche of our unreliable narrator. Scenes rewind and replay, each iteration imbued with a slightly different hue, reminding us of the fallibility of memory. Stylistic flourishes abound, from recurring images that serve as bookmarks in our protagonist's fractured memories to abrupt cuts that jolt us between locations and time periods. All of which is occasionally tied together with the Captain’s narration.
Amidst the intrigue, romance blossoms between the Captain and Sandra Oh’s (spy fans will recognise her from the series KILLING EVE) enigmatic Sofia Mori, adding a layer of emotional depth to the narrative.
Perhaps the most memorable is Episode 4 (directed by Fernando Meirelles of CITY OF GOD and Le Carré’s THE CONSTANT GARDENER fame) which sees the Captain consulting on a Hollywood film based on a group of American soldiers fighting in Vietnam. This draws out comparisons to the Vietnam war movies that followed the conflict. Think: APOCALYPSE NOW, PLATOON, etc. And in some ways, it reminded me of the spoof film: TROPIC THUNDER. Thus, the dark comedy angle will appeal to some but perhaps not others.
THE SYMPATHIZER traverses continents and eras with the agility of a seasoned spy. Along the way, it revels in the old-fashioned spycraft of miniature cameras and invisible ink, infusing moments of levity amidst the harrowing backdrop of war and betrayal. Highly recommended and much to like.
Check out the trailer below (Great soundtrack!)
Check out the book here — https://www.amazon.com/Sympathizer-Novel-Pulitzer-Prize-Fiction/dp/0802124941/