French “Spy”tacular

This chapter explores the representation of French intelligence agencies in 21st-century television and cinema. It finds that while early French spy films primarily embraced comedy and satire—exemplified by OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (OSS 117: Le Caire nid d’espions) (2006), OSS 117: Lost in Rio (OSS 117: Rio ne répond plus) (2009), and A Very Secret Service (Au service de la France) (2015–2018)—more recent productions, such as The Bureau (Le Bureau des Légendes) (2015–2020) and Spies of Terror (Les Espions de la terreur) (2024), have shifted toward a nuanced and realistic portrayal of espionage and intelligence as a profession. This transformation reflects broader societal and political changes, including France’s evolving role on the global stage and the intelligence service’s increasing transparency.