Up to a certain extent, an espionage movie (especially of the more intricate kind) can be compared to an erotic dance in the "Seven veils" tradition. Near the end, the intrigue should be visible in all its stunning glory, but this ending should be preceded by an artful game of covering and showing, baring and fleeing, promising and denying. Judged according to this criterion, "The Salzburg Connection" is not the most nimble or mesmerizing of dancers. Part of the movie is deeply confusing ; another part is taken up by heavy-duty explanations along the lines of "Now that A is working for the CIA, B will have left the CIA so that C can continue as a double agent for the Mossad, not that this will stop D from working for A, as long as E is still a Neonazi".
I've got to admit that I stopped paying attention by the end of the movie. For all I knew or cared, the various characters could have been after the secrets of the Nazis, after the plans for a new wind turbine or after the educational tips of Bulgarian homemakers.
Being a cynical creature, I laughed merrily when one of the characters stepped into a store and said that he was a lawyer working for free, during his holiday. "I'm a cannibal and I want to promote vegan cuisine" would have sounded more credible.
Still, the scenery is ravishing - Salzburg looks good enough to eat - and there are moments of wit or invention, such as a playful take on the "Follow that car !" cliché.
I've got to admit that I stopped paying attention by the end of the movie. For all I knew or cared, the various characters could have been after the secrets of the Nazis, after the plans for a new wind turbine or after the educational tips of Bulgarian homemakers.
Being a cynical creature, I laughed merrily when one of the characters stepped into a store and said that he was a lawyer working for free, during his holiday. "I'm a cannibal and I want to promote vegan cuisine" would have sounded more credible.
Still, the scenery is ravishing - Salzburg looks good enough to eat - and there are moments of wit or invention, such as a playful take on the "Follow that car !" cliché.