During the height of the Cold War, a suave American CIA operative and a stoic Soviet KGB agent are forced to set aside their rivalry and work together on a joint mission. Their target is a mysterious criminal organisation with access to nuclear weapons technology, and they must pose as allies — alongside a young East German woman — to infiltrate it. The film blends spy thriller tension with stylish period detail and a dry comedic undertone rooted in the clash of its two leads' very different personalities.