A fine, very sad, film about the consequence of war for decent people

Rating: 9/10 (11 July 2006)

First of all the film is a work of fiction so any criticism regarding specific incidents and details is somewhat missing the point. Having said that the movie catches well the tone of the times, as reflected in personal accounts and scholarly work dealing with that period. The film is shot chronologically so, the first period dealing with the war of independence is particularly striking visually as the change from autumn 1920 to spring 1921 is reflected in the changing light in the landscape.
Loach spends some time dealing with people's political arguments. While some criticize this as boring they are missing the point. People involved in politics talk about politics. To make a film about a revolution with only battle scenes would be as much a distortion of truth as to make a war film without death.
The core of the film however is about the dehumanizing effect that war has on decent human beings. This is powerfully portrayed and it is this that haunts more than any of the film's other considerable merits.