On the cusp of World War II British Intelligence officer Thomas Miller (Eddie Izzard) takes a role as a teacher in the Augusta Victoria college for German girls in Bexhill-on-Sea. Intelligence have concerns that the school is a double for German spy activity and believe the girls could be valuable prisoners, if war were to break out. 

Co-written and co-produced by Eddie Izzard it is clear the star has a great interest in this true story. But the decision to cast the transgender star as an action hero falls a little flat. Every time we see Miller running away from something I kept thinking of the fantastic charity work Izzard does by running marathons rather than believing he was a spy for British Intelligence. 

In fact, throughout the film I was either unconvinced by a performance, the character being played or both. 

Judi Dench plays the unbelievably naive school mistress Miss Rochell in another completely disinterested performance. The characters motivation seems odd enough without another Dench autopilot role. (See Blithe Spirit and Cats.) 

Carla Juri plays another teacher at the school who the film seems unsure about whether they are a stooge or a monster. And this applies to the girls themselves as well. Maria Dragus is given the role of Astrid who seems to be an evil Nazi in training whilst Tijan Merei is given the role of Gretel, a young girl being manipulated by the propaganda around her. 

The actual plot is intriguing. I had never heard this story before. But whilst there is a modicum of tension the film gives up all of its secrets very early on and struggles to make us care about the characters. I also was very disappointed in the write up given in the end credits. Given what had transpired in the film I expected a little more information on the outcomes for those involved. 

An interesting misfire.