More than a spy movie: Black Bag and the psychology of love and loyalty

Black Bag is the latest stylish espionage drama by Steven Soderbergh. It’s one of those movies that lures you in with its sleek surfaces, only to challenge you to look closer.

On the surface, Black Bag looks like a gripping spy thriller, but underneath, it’s a sharp story about trust and loyalty—two of the rarest modern luxuries.

Set in London, this drama shows that keeping secrets is both a survival skill and a litmus test for love. George (Michael Fassbender) and Kathryn (Cate Blanchett) are British intelligence agents.

They are the most admired couple—everyone looks up to them. Their marriage is idolized. However, their colleagues find it strange how strong their commitment to each other is, despite working in a profession built on deception. This skepticism largely stems from the fact that almost all of their colleagues are drowning in infidelity and secrets.

But George and Kathryn operate under an unspoken agreement: secrecy is a necessity in their job, not in their relationship.

***Black Bag*: A spy movie disguised as a love story**

Black Bag might feel like a classic espionage thriller, but at its core, it’s about relationships—especially loyalty and trust in today’s world.

George and Kathryn seem almost mythical among their deceitful colleagues. The warmth in their interactions, the way they exchange glances, and their constant reassurances contrast sharply with the environment they live in.

Black Bag flips the traditional spy movie trope of deception within a marriage. In one scene, Kathryn sneaks in late at night. George is already in bed when she arrives. The couple then discusses what they’ve discovered—they realize they’ve been set up, and someone is trying to sabotage their marriage. Had they not confronted each other and shared their suspicions, they would have ended up resenting one another, ultimately leading to a failed marriage.

But in Black Bag, Kathryn and George are a team from the start. They don’t discuss their work, but they also don’t lie to each other for personal motives.

The film constantly plays with our expectations. But at its core, it argues that in a world devoid of honesty, true power lies in transparency.

Soderbergh crafts Black Bag as a story of love in an era of detachment. The film asks whether faithfulness can survive in a world designed to destroy it, transforming a stylish spy thriller into a far more immersive experience.

***Black Bag*: A marriage in a house of lies**

The film’s title, Black Bag, refers to a term the couple uses—a metaphorical lockbox for their classified information. They never open that box in their personal lives.

We see Kathryn say “Black Bag” instead of telling George the truth—that she’s going to Zurich. Because it’s work-related and classified, George doesn’t ask any more questions.

Their colleagues struggle to separate their professional deception from their personal relationships. Deception is required for their jobs, but they naturally start applying the same behaviors—cheating and hiding things—in their personal lives, as their work involves constant lying and manipulation.

For them, deceit is not just a job requirement—it has seeped into their personal lives. Betrayal feels normal, even inevitable.

In contrast, George and Kathryn manage to keep their professional and personal worlds distinct. This makes their loyalty to each other unique. They understand the difference between deception required for their jobs as spies and dishonesty driven by personal motives.

Oh, and George? He’s an excellent spy, but he’s equally good at detecting a lie. He despises liars, and he makes it very clear throughout the movie.

In Black Bag, a major intelligence leak occurs. George is tasked with finding the mole within his own agency. That’s when the greatest test of their marriage begins. And it isn’t love.

Soderbergh explores the idea that spying isn’t just about gathering intelligence for political or professional reasons—it’s deeply personal. He presents espionage as something that reveals the intimate dynamics of relationships.

George and Kathryn don’t watch each other out of suspicion. They do it out of instinct. Out of protection. Out of love and devotion.

This rare kind of devotion unsettles those around them. In one scene, George (Michael Fassbender) tells Clarissa (Marisa Abela) that he will do anything to keep Kathryn (Cate Blanchett) safe. Clarissa seems turned on by this, calling it "hot"—as if monogamy is now a lost, rare concept.

Not lying is a radical act in a field where deceit is second nature. Black Bag suggests that the greatest rebellion isn’t betrayal but loyalty.