Powerful!

Rating: 10/10 (7 July 2006)

Only around 40 prints of this excellent film have been distributed in the UK, while France has distributed over 400! The Irish edition of a certain British national newspaper praised the movie, while the British edition of the same newspaper condemned it, and castigated British director Ken Loach for making it. My personal yardstick for judging the quality of any movie is "Do I find myself thinking about it long after I've seen it?" This movie passes that test - with merit - I have hardly stopped thinking about it since! Nobody spoke as we walked out of the cinema. It was as if we were in collective shock, as if we had all survived some traumatic experience. And it HAD been tough going! If a camera had been focused on the audience to record our reactions, it would show people squirming uncomfortably in their seats, wincing, grimacing in horror, and I'm sure, crying! The movie depicts the Irish War of Independence with brutal accuracy. It demonstrates with great clarity why the country divided following the truce with Britain, with each side's arguments being equally persuasive. The movie exposes the tragic horror of civil war, and shows how friends and even family members, once closely united, can become mortal enemies. Tough going, but essential viewing for anyone interested in serious cinema. It proves that a grainy, low-budget movie, containing unknown actors giving strong, believable performances can move an audience more than many CGI-laden Hollywood blockbusters! In my opinion, the movie is a worthy Palme d'Or winner. But don't expect it to sweep the board at the BAFTAs!