An act of malice leaves a bitter legacy

Rating: 10/10 (12 February 2008)

Occasionally a movie comes along that leaves you with a great feeling of satisfaction. This movie has the layered effect of a modern novel, looking at life's events from the perspective of time and drawing them together In a way that gives some sort of closure. There is no way to change the past; we can look back with remorse but admitting the truth is the right way to deal with the human cost.
Let it be said that the first 30 minutes are slow-going but this background is necessary to understand the story that follows. Pay attention to the perspective of the young people whose lives will quickly unfold and unravel after the initial scenes take place.
The movie gives us images of great beauty, childhood fantasies, grotesque scenes of war, actual newsreel footage and a sad incident that haunts the main characters for the rest of their lives.
British cinema and literature often deal with the underdog but not in the Frank Capra tradition of happy endings. This alternative tradition says that life can be mean and unfair, don't gloss it over with fairy tales cloaked in patriotism and heroism. This movie delivers that message in a fine piece of film-making by director Joe Wright.