A Question of Identity

Episode aired Nov 13, 1992
1h

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

YOUR RATING

Crime Drama

Erwin van Haarlem is a man of mystery. Living in London in 1986 and ostensibly a Dutch art dealer, he is in fact spying for Czechoslovakia with a mission to track down supporters of the diss... Read allErwin van Haarlem is a man of mystery. Living in London in 1986 and ostensibly a Dutch art dealer, he is in fact spying for Czechoslovakia with a mission to track down supporters of the dissident group, Chapter 77.Erwin van Haarlem is a man of mystery. Living in London in 1986 and ostensibly a Dutch art dealer, he is in fact spying for Czechoslovakia with a mission to track down supporters of the dissident group, Chapter 77.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

YOUR RATING

2User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

User reviews2

Featured review

5/10

Fascinating story, poorly told.

Communist spy Erwin van Haarlem operated in London as an effective communist spy, his mission is placed in jeopardy, when the real mother of Erwin van Haarlem appears in search of her long lost son.

First off, great that Talking Pictures dedicated this episode to the late, great Bernard Hill, what a brilliant actor he was.

It's a wonderful storyline, and if this was made today, I'm sure it would make for a wonderful six part series, truth is, as a production it's very clunky. It conjures up thoughts of Spyship and Tinker, Tailor.

It has a cheap feel to it, it lacks atmosphere, it lacks a strong narrative, sometimes it felt disjointed, and it certainly doesn't give the full story of the central character, but then it is now over thirty years old.

Bernard Hill is very good nonetheless, and the supporting cast are solid enough, but they're definitely up against it.

Obscure, but worth seeing, it's definitely one of those stories where I implore you to look further, it's fascinating, but this adaptation is somewhat disappointed.

5/10.