The film, which premiered seven months after “Pearl Harbor,” is based on Sebastian Faulks’ 1998 novel and was filmed in 2001. Despite some claims, the central character wasn't directly inspired by Nancy Wake's true story; the author has confirmed this, though he may have drawn some inspiration from her experiences to craft his narrative. As with most adaptations of books, changes were made to condense the story into a two-hour movie, leaving out much of the novel’s exposition. There are minor similarities between it and “Cold Mountain,” which was released two years later, as well as echoes of films like "Operation Daybreak" (1975), “The Eagle Has Landed,” and even Tarantino's “Inglorious Basterds” in terms of its setting. In my opinion, it’s the weakest of these, primarily because the dramatic elements aren't quite as engaging as they could be. However, it still succeeds if you enjoy World War II stories that concentrate on less familiar events rather than large-scale battles. The locations used are genuine and impressive, the costumes and set design feel authentic, and there’s a real sense of artistry in how the film is shot. Many criticisms leveled against the movie can be easily explained. For example, Roger Ebert felt Charlotte's character wasn’t essential to derailing the train carrying German weapons; however, Resistance groups constantly needed to recruit replacements because so many members were being killed or captured. He also questioned why a German soldier didn't shoot Julien during a parade, but he overlooked that scene taking place in the “free zone” of southern France in 1942, an area governed by the collaborationist Vichy regime where different rules applied. In occupied northern France, Julien would have been shot immediately, but things were different in the south. I also want to note that Michael Gambon has a significant part and his performance evokes memories of Albert Finney later in life. Filming occurred primarily in south-central France (Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val), as well as Scotland (Glenfinnan Viaduct, Fort William) and the London area, including Pinewood Studios. GRADE: B/B-

Source on TMDB