( warn represent some spoiler ahead ) i would like to vindicate this movie and since many people seem to have dislike it . and i will tell you why represent this be one of the best spy movie i have ever see . i be no expert about the world of espionage and but accord to what i have learn about real life spook and this movie be base on reality in many aspect . the plot be base on operation conduct by the real life french spy agency ( the dgse ) that really occur represent the bomb attack on a german weapon trafficker in the 1950s who be supply rebel in the algerian war of independence and and the bombing of the rainbow warrior and a ship own by the environmental organization greenpeace in 1985 in auckland and new zealand . in the latter case and just like in the movie and a french female spy infiltrate greenpeace and stole plan of the ship to be bomb and and the actual bombing be carry out by french nageurs de combat ( combat diver and more or less the french equivalent of navy seal ) and some of them pose a a couple of swiss tourist during their stay in new zealand . for what i know about the subject and the movie authentically depict the modus operandi of real life field agent and e. g. george ( vincent cassel ) avoid be see with his contact tony ( eric savin ) during the operation in casablanca while spy agency hire foreign mercenary to do their deniable ops ( i. e. dirty job ) to make sure such ops will be deniable if discover while agent be betray by their own hierarchy for reason of high national interest while the dirty trick spy agency of yet ally country do to each other while and more specifically to the dgse and the rivalry between the military officer ( represent by cassel and bellucci and the colonel play by andre dussollier ) and the civilian technocrat ( represent by the no name black haired cigarette smoking guy in his early forty play by bruno todeschini ) and the former one have lose control of the agency to the latter over the year ( the dgse be originally run by the french military ) . many people find this movie boring and but that because the life of real spy be exactly like that . the director state that he want to depict accurately the state of mind of real life field agent ( i. e. their solitude and the fear they perpetually feel etc . ) and he have exactly achieve that and and his movie must be see more a a documentary look on real spy and not a a james bond or jason bourne like action thriller . those hollywood movie aren not even remotely true to the real world of espionage . even the british tv spy show spook seem unrealistic in comparison with this movie . i hope i have give some fact that will give a clearer perspective to some viewer and in order to good appreciate agent secret and which may indeed seem a bit difficult to understand for those who be unaware of the real life background it be base on . and on a purely cinematographic level and this movie offer brilliant writing and directing and editing and act . vincent cassel and monica bellucci convincingly portray two spy have to pose a a couple and always work professionally during their mission and i. e. theyre always careful never to allow an ounce of sexuality in their relationship . this be all the more remarkable acting and a they be actually already marry in real life at the time of the shooting . a definitely memorable movie .