"Julia" and "Lillian" maintained a close friendship throughout their lives, staying connected and warm over the years. Julia (Vanessa Redgrave) had gone to Germany in the 1930s and was committed to doing everything she could to undermine the growing Nazi power – or, at minimum, assisting those targeted by them to escape. To that end, she reached out to her playwright friend (Lillian Hellman, who wrote the screenplay from her own book and is portrayed by Jane Fonda), requesting assistance in smuggling a considerable amount of money into the country to finance her increasingly risky endeavors. What follows is Fred Zinnemann’s direction of a train journey which keeps nearly everyone – particularly Miss Fonda – on pins and needles. There are passport inspections, customs searches; we're aware of where the funds are located, but will she manage to get them through? This portion of the film provides the greatest sense of suspense and is genuinely captivating. Afterward, it dips somewhat into melodrama, and the tension lessens a bit. Nevertheless, Jane Fonda delivers a believable performance alongside an interesting supporting turn from her neighbor and confidant "Hammett" (Jason Robards). Redgrave appears relatively infrequently – but her moments do serve to recall just how harsh and merciless the regime was – and how precarious safety felt for anyone opposing it. Georges Delerue composed a score that suits the story well, possessing an undeniable sense of realism at times. The film is visually appealing, with considerable care given to the production design; although it fades slightly toward the conclusion, it’s definitely something worth seeing.

Source on TMDB