Restless

A quiet tale of espionage and suspense, Restless spins a fine spy story that jumps between 1939 and 1976. Hayley Atwell stars as Eva Delectorskaya, a reluctant agent recruited by British Intelligence just in time for WWII. Michelle Dockery costars as the daughter who is astonished to not only learn of her mother's covert history 35 years later (Charlotte Rampling plays the older Eva), but also discover that the dangers of the past are still nipping at Eva's heels. This two-part 2012 miniseries unfolds through a judicious series of flashbacks and flashforwards that describe Eva's indoctrination to spycraft, her work spreading disinformation in the U.K. and the U.S., her romantic attachments, and the growing evidence that she's still part of the game—even in her dotage. Rather than fancy up the story with florid mystery or forced emotion, director Edward Hall wisely adopts a straightforward approach in adapting the 2006 novel by William Boyd. Eva's journey from innocent girl, to master spy, to paranoid operative still stuck out in the cold makes for a satisfying mix of tension and drama. And the ensemble cast is first rate, including Rufus Sewell and Michael Gambon. Extras include a photo gallery. Recommended. (T. Fry)