MovieChat Forums > Bridge of Spies (2015) Discussion > Donovan's Bartering Logic was Flawed

Donovan's Bartering Logic was Flawed

posted 8 years ago by markszar
2 replies | jump to latest

I came to the Bridge of Spies Message Board expecting to see an explanation for why the two for one swap was successful. However, I don't see any discussion on the topic.

As stated in the topic line, Donovan's logic was flawed regarding the two for one swap. He was offering a single consideration (Abel) to two separate and distinct parties (the Soviets and the GDR). By swapping Abel for Powers with the Soviets, he wasn't able to also provide consideration (Abel) to the GDR for Pryor. Nothing in the movie lead me to believe that the Soviets were bound to release Abel to the GDR. The movie also went to lengths to suggest that the Soviets might kill Abel if they believed he had turned. If they had killed him, the GDR would not have been able to reunite him with his family via Vogel. Therefore, the GDR had no reason to make a deal with Donovan.

Did I miss something?

[–] objviewer 8 years ago

Hmmm, I could be wrong, but don't think Soviets and GDR were all that separate in the negotiations. Able's GDR family was fake; GDR just doing what Soviets told them with regard to getting Able. What the GDR got out of returning Pryer was keeping the whole deal from falling through, which would have gotten them in trouble with the Soviets, upon whom they were dependent.

[–] jack-upland 8 years ago

In reality Donovan didn't do much. The USSR and the GDR were working together. They selected Donovan to be the go-between. They decided to offer both Powers and Pryor for Abel. There was no real negotiation about this.