One of the most unusual true stories of World War II brought to screen, this 2022 feature film starring Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen and Kelly Macdonald dramatises a key British deception strategy used to mislead Nazi Germany ahead of the Allied invasion of Sicily.
Operation Mincemeat was directed by John Madden (Shakespeare in Love), and is based on the bestselling non-fiction book by Ben Macintyre, which in turn draws from real declassified military records.
With an 83% critics’ score on cinema reviewing Rotten Tomatoes, the film is set in 1943 and follows British intelligence officers Ewen Montagu (Colin Firth) and Charles Cholmondeley (Matthew Macfadyen) as they lead an elaborate plan to fool German forces into believing the Allies intended to invade Greece rather than Sicily.
The mission involved releasing the body of a deceased man into the sea off the coast of Spain, dressed as a Royal Marine and carrying falsified documents designed to mislead enemy intelligence.
The man became known as “Major William Martin” – a fictional identity constructed in detail to make the deception convincing.
The operation was a success and played a significant role in diverting German troops away from Sicily, saving thousands of lives during the actual Allied invasion in July 1943.
On the reviewing platform, viewers and critics have praised the film for its intelligent pacing and attention to character detail. One f an noted: “Well written and superbly acted. Even though one may know the outcome, the suspense is enthralling. The two hours flew by. Excellent film and entertainment.”
Another viewer described the film as a slow-burner that rewards attention, saying: “This is the second or third time I’ve seen this movie, and it still captivates me in a way I think could be missed if you’re not paying attention…”
“It is a significant story told through the depth and intellect of its characters, as developed by very detailed writing.”
The film’s restrained tone has also been highlighted as a strength: “Impressively nuanced and skilful storytelling… With restraint and subtlety, Operation Mincemeat avoids Hollywood bombast and cliché in favour of understated cinematic art. Plus it’s a very British film, which offers added enjoyments.”
Operation Mincemeat (2022) is now available to stream on Netflix.