The Venerable Bead

Set in the early 1970s, the story follows Leila Aluja, an Iraqi-American lawyer turned film star, who works for a government counter-espionage unit. Tasked with uncovering a ring of Sino-Albanian spies in Hollywood, she successfully completes her mission but becomes romantically involved with the Albanian spymaster, Josef Shqitonja. This relationship leads to a crucial compromise, ultimately ending her undercover career and raising questions about loyalty and love amidst the backdrop of Cold War tensions.