The Courier (2020), directed by Dominic Cooke, is a gripping Cold War espionage thriller based on the true story of British businessman Greville Wynne, who became an unlikely spy during one of the most critical moments in modern history. The film is a taut and understated exploration of bravery, friendship, and the high stakes of espionage, anchored by strong performances, particularly from Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead role.

Greville Wynne (Cumberbatch) is a seemingly ordinary businessman who is recruited by MI6 and the CIA in the early 1960s to act as a courier for classified information. His mission is to travel to Moscow under the guise of business dealings and retrieve intelligence from Soviet officer Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze), a whistleblower seeking to prevent nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Despite having no prior experience in espionage, Wynne agrees to the mission, finding himself thrust into a world of danger, deception, and secrecy.

As Wynne and Penkovsky form a trusting and heartfelt bond, the personal stakes of their mission become increasingly clear. Penkovsky risks his life and that of his family to pᴀss critical intelligence to the West, while Wynne struggles with the toll the mission takes on his own life and family, including his wife Sheila (Jessie Buckley). The tension builds as Soviet authorities close in, leading to a harrowing climax that tests both men’s resolve and courage.

Benedict Cumberbatch delivers a nuanced and compelling performance as Wynne, portraying him as an everyman who rises to the occasion despite his fears and limitations. Cumberbatch captures Wynne’s transformation from a reluctant participant to a man deeply committed to the mission, even at great personal cost. Merab Ninidze is equally compelling as Penkovsky, imbuing the character with dignity, intelligence, and a quiet heroism that resonates throughout the film. Their chemistry adds emotional depth, highlighting the human connections forged in the face of immense pressure.

The film’s period-accurate production design and cinematography effectively transport viewers to the tense atmosphere of the Cold War era. Muted color palettes, shadowy interiors, and stark Soviet landscapes create an environment of paranoia and secrecy, enhancing the film’s suspenseful tone. The understated score complements the film’s restrained style, underscoring the quiet intensity of its most dramatic moments.

While The Courier may not rely on flashy action sequences, its strength lies in its character-driven narrative and its focus on the human cost of espionage. The film explores themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and the moral ambiguity of covert operations, showing the toll they take on those involved. The real-life stakes of Wynne and Penkovsky’s actions—helping to avert nuclear catastrophe—add weight to the story, making it both thrilling and profoundly moving.

The Courier is a well-crafted and poignant thriller that pays tribute to the unsung heroes of history. With its focus on character, emotion, and historical significance, it stands out as a compelling and thoughtful addition to the espionage genre. It’s a reminder of the extraordinary courage of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.