Many older films are largely forgotten. But a few are worth rescuing from oblivion. One much neglected film is Pascali’s Island, a suspenseful thriller, starring the matchless Ben Kingsley, co-starring with the dazzling Helen Mirren and the versatile Charles Dance. The setting is an exotic Greek island in the Aegean at the dawn of the 20th century. The plot interweaves the familiar themes of intrigue, deceit, and betrayal, all through the eyes of the protagonist, Pascali (played by Kingsley). Although the story is fiction, it unfolds against a historical backdrop: a Greek rebellion brewing against the occupying forces of the Ottoman Empire in decline. But the film does not dwell on war and politics. Rather, the spotlight stays on Pascali, a veteran Turkish spy who reports regularly to his superiors on Greek rebels and suspicious tourists.

Mirren plays an eccentric socialite, part of an elite circle of foreign residents and visitors. A mysterious stranger arrives one day, an Englishman professing to be an archaeologist. This surprise arrival at the island starts to complicate Pascali’s daily routine. We witness the melodrama unfold gradually through the lens of a tormented soul, as Pascali wrestles incessantly with a growing suspicion towards everyone in his inner circle. Can a nagging distrust of friends be suppressed? Or will his sense of patriotism — as a loyal servant of the Ottoman Empire — prevail?

The screenplay, by James Dearden, was adapted from a 1980 novel by Barry Unsworth. The lush music, seashore, and landscape, are all evocative of the islands of the Aegean. To viewers who are tired of murder mysteries: rest assured this film is not one of them. The film enjoyed a moment of artistic recognition at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival.

A recent release on DVD, digitally remastered by Lionsgate, can be rented or purchased from various websites, including YouTube and Prime Video.