In the index of the AP US History textbook it is likely that the name James Donovan won’t be listed anywhere, but even if it happens to be there it is likely that he will only be the subject of a couple of sentences. Even Alan Turing, who was portrayed last year by Benedict Cumberbatch in the movie “The Imitation Game,” only had a single sentence in the entire textbook. Understandably, it is difficult to fit 239 years of history into a high school textbook while covering all the major topics that show how this country got to where it is today, but that doesn’t mean these stories aren’t important.

Steven Spielberg knows that too. Having previously created historical dramas like “Saving Private Ryan,” “Lincoln,” “Band of Brothers,” “Schindler’s List,” “Munich,” and much more, Spielberg delivers one of the best movies of 2015, “Bridge of Spies.” It is directed by Spielberg, written by brothers Joel and Ethan Coen (also creators of “Fargo,” “No Country for Old Men,” and “The Big Lebowski”), and starred by Tom Hanks. These four names alone should be enough incentive for many people to go see this movie.

Tom Hanks plays James Donovan, the insurance lawyer who is recruited to make the mediations that neither the USA nor the USSR can make without threatening to blow each other up. Set during the cold war, there is a constant sense of impending doom and nationalism in both countries. Children are shown footage of mushroom clouds and are taught that ducking and cover will greatly reduce the chance of incineration. Both countries are engaged in intense espionage, which results in the dilemma that James has to clean up. And everybody hates poor James, who just wants to get back home to be in his own bed but will not rest until he is finished. But can you blame everybody? James’ negotiations are keeping a Soviet spy alive and everybody wants to send that spy to the electric chair.

Spielberg tackles the difficult task of portraying James and the Soviet spy Rudolf Abel (played by Mark Rylance) as heroes and he does so successfully. As a result, the average citizens of the United States are shown as being deluded by very powerful national pride. And you can’t blame them for that either. They fear the constant threat of nuclear war, even though both the United States and the Soviet Union are farther from destruction and pain than Berlin. Ultimately, Spielberg shows, among many other things, how the political affairs of these two major powers have a direct negative impact on people who want nothing to do with the Cold War. James, who is closer to the danger in Berlin than anyone else, has his morals tested as he has to negotiate with people who are more worried about the reputation of their country than what is right.

In this important thriller where the action is primarily in the dialogue we are shown how James talks his way through any and every situation and remains a “standing man” in the face of criticism, death, and pure hatred. He is yet another great hero that Spielberg brings to life on the screen. Now you can learn a lot of useful things from a history textbook, but you can’t learn of the journey of James Donovan who fought alone with no one backing him for what he believed in.