An Officer and a Spy

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An Officer and a Spy

Aug 2025

2h 12m

History

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

On January 5, 1895, Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a young Jewish soldier, is degraded for spying for Germany and is sentenced to life imprisonment on Devil's Island. Among the witnesses to his humiliation is Georges Picquart, who is promoted to run the military counter-intelligence unit that tracked him down. But when Picquart discovers that secrets are still being handed over to the Germans, he is drawn into a dangerous labyrinth of deceit and corruption that threatens not just his honor but his life.

Critics Consensus

Depicting the Dreyfus affair with steadfast efficiency and a standout performance by Jean Dujardin, An Officer and a Spy is one of director Roman Polanski's sturdiest efforts in years.

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Dwight Brown

DwightBrownInk.com

Sep 15

3.5/4

A masterwork based on a piece of history that shouldn’t get lost.

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

Aug 15

Rather than reconsidering history by intimate acquaintance with a lesser-known hero, it turns its hero into a stick figure no more personalized, complex, or contextualized than a comic-book creation. Far from arousing curiosity, the movie forecloses it.

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Kyle Smith

Wall Street Journal

Aug 8

Polanski confines the resolution to an epilogue, he has nevertheless made an oft-told tale lively and urgent. “An Officer and a Spy” is Mr. Polanski’s finest work in many years.

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Terry Sherwood

Film Threat

Dec 3

9/10

J’Accuse feels like an act of cinematic indictment of ignoring of fact, glossing over for the institution more strongly when one stares corruption in the eye and refuses to blink or act.

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Stephen Garrett

Book & Film Globe

Aug 26

4/5

A taut, nuanced and often gripping drama about systemic abuses of power and moral corruption tinged with unspoken shame.

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Ethan J. Rosenberg

In Review Online

Aug 16

The original French title, J’accuse, suggests something worth seeing... But maybe its perfunctory English title, An Officer and a Spy, is more apt — limp, generic, lacking in texture and flavor — because that’s the movie we got.

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Alejandro E

@Alex970 Aug 22

Without being one of the highlights of Roman Polanski's filmography, and without pretending to be a history lesson, it tells one of the historical examples of miscarriage of justice. If there is anything that makes it worth watching, it is that and the performances.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Aug 8

Success in 2 hours and 12 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Andrei D

11/20/2024

For those who do not know the historical events it might be hard to actually understand what's going on but the acting is solid

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Logan D

02/25/2024

A young Jewish soldier, Dreyfus, is convicted of treason and sent to Devil's Island. Newly promoted to counter-intelligence, George Picquart learns secrets are still being handed over to the Germans and Dreyfus may be innocent. Well written and well performed, Polanski still has it at the age of 86. The subject is still relevant over a 100 years later. I would say the film as a whole is a bit formal and could have served itself by interjecting some lightheartedness to stimulate the audience. Or shortened the length a bit. I enjoyed it overall.

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11/27/2021

This film is great! It hits you withouth spectacular scene but with an awesome script and acting that keeps you always interested. Also evokes the Parisian atmosphere of that time in a truly fascinating way.

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05/23/2021

A well written film. The actors show an excellent performance. Roman Polanski brings a touching screenplay to the stage and completes the masterpiece with sublime direction.

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Roman Polanski

Director

Jean Dujardin

Picquart

Louis Garrel

Alfred Dreyfus

Emmanuelle Seigner

Pauline Monnier

Grégory Gadebois

Henry

Hervé Pierre

Général Gonse

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Synopsis

On January 5, 1895, Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a young Jewish soldier, is degraded for spying for Germany and is sentenced to life imprisonment on Devil's Island. Among the witnesses to his humiliation is Georges Picquart, who is promoted to run the military counter-intelligence unit that tracked him down. But when Picquart discovers that secrets are still being handed over to the Germans, he is drawn into a dangerous labyrinth of deceit and corruption that threatens not just his honor but his life.

Director: Roman Polanski
Producer: Alain Goldman
Screenwriter: Robert B. Harris, Roman Polanski
Production Co: RP Productions, France 2 Cinéma, Gaumont, RAI Cinema, Eliseo Cinema, France 3 Cinéma, Légendaire
Genre: History, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 8, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 2h 12m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)