The Pigeon Tunnel

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The Pigeon Tunnel

PG-13

2023

1h 34m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

85 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Academy Award-winning documentarian 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 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. "The Pigeon Tunnel" is a deeply human and engaging exploration of le Carré's extraordinary journey and the paper-thin membrane between fact and fiction.

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Critics Consensus

Enthralling for fans as well as those who've never read one of his bestsellers, The Pigeon Tunnel pulls back the curtain on a master of the espionage thriller.

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Graeme Blundell

The Australian

This beautifully constructed film finishes with Morris asking one last question. What does the spy novelist see these days when he looks in the mirror?

Oct 27, 2023

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Mark Feeney

Boston Globe

“The Pigeon Tunnel” is mannered, but one could argue that’s fitting. It’s hard to get more mannered than the le Carré prose style and plotting.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 27, 2023

Full Review

Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

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.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 27, 2023

Full Review

Jen Shieff

New Zealand Herald

What drove le Carre to write is the question the documentary asks, and answers in quite a mesmerising way.

Jan 9, 2025

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Amy Taubin

Artforum

Odd connections that have made exquisite corpse–like shapes in my memory bank...among the most pleasurable documentaries...

Jan 27, 2024

Full Review

Alex Heeney

Seventh Row

As a le Carré fan, I enjoyed it as a curio, but le Carré is cagey about a number of topics which make the film less illuminating than one might hope.

Jan 24, 2024

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David F

I love Errol Morris and I love John Le Carré, so I’m biased, but this was a very engrossing documentary about the novelist's biography, told entirely from his perspective. The con-man father looms very large over Le Carré, even larger than his work in espionage for which he is known. It’s a revealing documentary, if not quite an unraveling of the whole man.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/28/24

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Russell T

Really enjoyable. The documentary intertwines Cornwall’s life with the characters, plots, and themes of his works. A must see for any fan of the author.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/23/24

Full Review

Alec B

Its a fascinating examination of Le Carre who was extremely perceptive of other people.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/04/24

Full Review

Kevin E

A little bit on the dry side, but very insightful into a compelling author.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/24

Full Review

Carol C

I've always been a Le Carre fan. This documentary pulls the curtain aside to reveal the complex man behind his fascinating body of work.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/12/23

Full Review

Thomas S

Enjoyed reliving some of my favorite reads from early 80's.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/25/23

Full Review

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Synopsis

Academy Award-winning documentarian 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 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. "The Pigeon Tunnel" is a deeply human and engaging exploration of le Carré's extraordinary journey and the paper-thin membrane between fact and fiction.

Director: Errol Morris
Producer: Errol Morris, Steven Hathaway, Stephen Cornwell, Dominic Crossley-Holland, Simon Cornwell
Screenwriter: Errol Morris
Distributor: Apple Original Films
Production Co: 127 Wall, Hero Squared, Storyteller Productions, Fourth Floor Productions, Jago Films, The Ink Factory, Apple Original Films
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Language|Some Violence|Smoking)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 20, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 20, 2023
Runtime: 1h 34m

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