Parents' Guide to The Pigeon Tunnel

Movie PG-13 2023 92 minutes
The Pigeon Tunnel movie poster: John le Carré, the White British author who is the subject of the film, is seated in a chair facing the camera with his hands and legs crossed, the gray-haired writer wearing a light-colored shirt and tie, dark-colored overcoat, pants, socks, and shoes, and there are images of pigeons flying above his head, against a beige and red graphic background where the film's title and other credits appear in black letters

Common Sense Media Review

Sabrina McFarland By Sabrina McFarland , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

Superb docu on spy novelist John le Carré; language, peril.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Any Positive Content?

  • The Pigeon Tunnel Trailer
  • Still from The Pigeon Tunnel: John le Carré, the White British author who is the subject of the film, is seated at a desk with a black lamp while writing with a pen, the gray-haired writer is wearing a dark-colored sports jacket, a light-colored Oxford shirt with the collar opened, and gray pants, and in the background are bookshelves and framed images hanging on a wall or positioned on a nearby table
  • Still from The Pigeon Tunnel: John le Carré, the White British author who is the subject of the film, is seated in a chair with legs crossed and next to a long wooden rectangular-shaped table that has six white eggs on it, above is a fluorescent ceiling light, and the gray-haired writer is wearing a light-colored Oxford shirt with an open collar, and dark-colored sports jacket, pants, socks, and shoes, and in the background are two windows
  • Still from The Pigeon Tunnel: John le Carré outside overlooking the sea

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age 13+

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What's the Story?

THE PIGEON TUNNEL is a documentary that chronicles highlights from the life of the award-winning espionage novelist John le Carré. Oscar-winning director Errol Morris presents le Carré, who was born David Cornwell, as the film's only firsthand interview. The filmmaker launches an in-depth dialogue with le Carré that includes discussions about the writer's relationships with his mom and dad, his journey as a member of British intelligence, and his career as a celebrated scribe. The documentary also includes archival footage and photos, clips from movies based on le Carré's books, and reenactment scenes.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say : Not yet rated

The pairing of Oscar-winning filmmaker Errol Morris (Fast, Cheap & Out of Control) and award-winning spy novelist John le Carré (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) is pure cinematic pleasure. Viewers will be mesmerized by the candid presentation le Carré gives of his childhood. "Like many artistic people," says the novelist, "I have lived from early childhood inside an imaginative bubble." Le Carré's mom Olive abandoned the family when he was 5 and she was "impenetrable emotionally," he says. Le Carré also freely admits his dad Ronnie was a confidence trickster who "bought huge quantities of my books, usually on credit, and signed them from the author's father."

Le Carré considered a life in the legal profession but was lured to join the ranks of British spies. "From a very early age, I was a little spy," he recalls. Whenever his dad left the house, le Carré investigated. But le Carré later finds that writing is his true calling. "For me writing is a journey of self-discovery every time," he notes about the craft he loves. "My business is to try to make creditable fables out of the worlds that I visited or visited me."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the communication shared by John le Carré in The Pigeon Tunnel. How does he also demonstrate courage and perseverance? Why are they important character strengths?

  • Why do you think le Carré's novels and the films based on his books are so popular? What aspect of his works might be most appealing and why?

  • In the documentary, le Carré says that he was recruited to become a spy. Would you consider this occupation as a career choice? Why or why not?

  • How would you describe the relationship between the novelist and his parents? What were their similarities and differences in personality?

  • In the film the writer says that truth is subjective. Do you agree or disagree and why?

Movie Details

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The Pigeon Tunnel movie poster: John le Carré, the White British author who is the subject of the film, is seated in a chair facing the camera with his hands and legs crossed, the gray-haired writer wearing a light-colored shirt and tie, dark-colored overcoat, pants, socks, and shoes, and there are images of pigeons flying above his head, against a beige and red graphic background where the film's title and other credits appear in black letters

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