The Pigeon Tunnel

Name: The Pigeon Tunnel
Genre: Documentary
Released: October 20, 2023
Duration: 92 min
Rating: 79
Cast: Alan Mehdizadeh, Charlotte Hamblin, Douglas Rankine, Jake Dove, John le Carré

2023

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

No score yet

tbd

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

tbd	Your Score
tbd	User Score No score yet

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

The Pigeon Tunnel

Now Playing: The Pigeon Tunnel

Movie Details & Credits

Apple TV+ | Release Date (Streaming): October 20, 2023 | PG-13

Starring: Alan Mehdizadeh, Charlotte Hamblin, Douglas Rankine, Jake Dove, John le Carré

Summary: Errol Morris pulls back the curtain on the storied life and career of former British spy David Cornwell — better known as John le Carré, author of such classic espionage novels as The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Constant Gardener. Set against the turbulent backdrop of the Cold War leading into presentErrol Morris pulls back the curtain on the storied life and career of former British spy David Cornwell — better known as John le Carré, author of such classic espionage novels as The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Constant Gardener. Set against the turbulent backdrop of the Cold War leading into present day, the film spans six decades as le Carré delivers his final and most candid interview, punctuated with rare archival footage and dramatized vignettes.… Expand

Director: Errol Morris

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 92 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

The Playlist Jason Bailey

Sep 11, 2023

What is truly, and thrillingly, new here is Morris’s thematic interest. The deeper he goes into the rabbit hole with Cornwall, the more his true subject becomes apparent, as the picture becomes a penetrating investigation of the idea that great artists freely use fiction to work through the very real pain of their own lives—even in work that’s not explicitly or even transparently autobiographical. Read full review

Jeannette Catsoulis

Oct 19, 2023

Intellectually rich and cinematically disciplined (brief movie clips, another perfectly aligned Philip Glass score), The Pigeon Tunnel is a cautious, playful portrait of an expert manipulator. Read full review

Lindsey Bahr

Oct 19, 2023

It’s an Errol Morris film, right down to the Philip Glass score. And while the Interrotron and the reenactments might not be the revolutionary storytelling devices they once were, they’re almost comforting at this point and no less effective at creating a mood and an emotional experience around a sharp conversation. Read full review

The Telegraph Jake Kerridge

Oct 13, 2023

Le Carré’s relationship with his father is the focus of the film. This is well-worn territory, and yet it proves impossible to tire of le Carré talking about the old devil. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Oct 27, 2023

For le Carré fans, The Pigeon Tunnel is a must-see, but the film will also be useful to people wanting an introduction to his work. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

Sep 18, 2023

It’s almost more like a companion to some of the most popular books of all time—not an explainer or even piece of historical trivia about their execution. Instead, this documentary reveals how even the most complex spy fiction can have a foundation in the relationship between a son and his father. Read full review

The Film Stage Lena Wilson

Oct 3, 2023

As a film, The Pigeon Tunnel is competent. It looks nice, its reenactments are polished, and Cornwell’s wit aptly distracts from the movie’s pitfalls. But if you’re looking for an incisive, thorough documentary that probes and provokes, prepare to lower your expectations. Read full review

SEE ALL 20 REVIEWS

User Score

Write a Review

tbd

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

No reviews yet.