In “Secrets Lies & Atomic Spies,” director Lisa Lewenz takes us on a journey into the world of espionage during the Cold War era. The Venona Project, a covert operation to decode messages sent by Soviet intelligence agencies, was a remarkable feat of cryptanalysis that went on for years. Through interviews with surviving officials involved in the Venona Project, including codebreaker Meredith Gardner and retired FBI agent Robert Lamphere, Lewenz tells the story of how the project exposed a vast network of spies operating in the US, including highly placed agents at the clandestine facility in Los Alamos, New Mexico, where the atomic bomb was designed and built.
The documentary skillfully weaves together archive footage, interviews, and narration to bring to life the story of how the Venona Project uncovered the secrets of Soviet espionage. The interviews with Gardner and Lamphere are particularly engaging, as they recount their experiences in cracking the Soviet codes and how they worked tirelessly to identify the spies who were operating in the US.
Lewenz also sheds light on the impact of the Venona Project on the course of history. By exposing Soviet espionage, the project led to the conviction of several spies, including Los Alamos scientist Klaus Fuchs, who was tried and convicted for espionage in 1950. The Venona Project also revealed the activities of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were prosecuted as the leaders of the Soviet atom spy ring and executed in 1953.
One of the most intriguing stories told in the documentary is that of Los Alamos scientist Ted Hall, who was identified by Venona as a Soviet spy but never confessed. Lewenz skillfully portrays Hall’s character as a complex figure, who believed that by passing on atomic secrets to the Soviet Union, he was contributing to world peace. His espionage gave the Soviets the key to designing their first nuclear weapon, but he managed to escape prosecution.
Overall, “Secrets Lies & Atomic Spies” is a fascinating documentary that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the Cold War era. Through compelling interviews and archive footage, the documentary shows how the Venona Project exposed Soviet espionage and changed the course of history.
