Set in a bomb-damaged London hotel during the aftermath of World War II Close to the Enemy is a thriller that follows British intelligence officer Captain Callum Ferguson (Jim Sturgess). His last task for the Army is to ensure that Dieter (August Diehl), a captured German Scientist develops cutting edge jet engine technology for the British. Such expertise is becoming vital to Britain as they try to maintain any kind of superiority in the emerging Cold War. Callum employs unorthodox methods in his attempt to convince Dieter to work for the British, eventually developing a friendship with him. A friendship which becomes threatened as those around him believe that Dieter may have stood by as innocents in labour camps perished under the rule of the Nazi party.