A powerful,moving film so realistic, as to be at times disturbing

Rating: 8/10 (3 September 2006)

A very powerful Movie in typical Ken Loach's uncompromising style, in which again he attempts to expose past injustices in History and Modern Life, as he sees them. Again Writer Paul Laverty has served Loach well, and no doubt they will once again have, between them, annoyed and dismayed the "Establishment". Well worth seeing, although harrowing in places, to give a perspective to the Irish/English historical situation. The acting, almost without exception, by a largely unknown cast was excellent and believably realistic. One aspect of the film which I feel needs some explanation is in depicting the "Black and Tans", the irregulars, where they almost all spoke with Scottish accents. This reflects how mainly Scots were recruited for these duties,dressed in makeshift uniforms, allowing the regular army to keep a distance. I wish Ken Loach could be given the power of a large budget and the freedom to cover any subject, but I doubt that will ever happen because of his uncompromising nature with the truth.