A beautiful film of an ugly subject

Rating: 7/10 (8 July 2006)

Apparently there have been savage reviews of this film by professional critics, presumably of the right-wing press, some of whom admit, laughably, to having not seen the film. Such a reaction is truly shocking. I didn't find the film 'anti-British' in any way, there is brutality on all sides here and I found my sympathies shifting back and forth throughout the duration of the picture. The political situation is depicted with commendable nuance, the realisation that in real life (as opposed to Hollywood life) there are no easy solutions, no categorical good and bad, real life is messy, complicated, dirty, both tragic and comic; people often don't have the time for much thought and certainly don't have the benefit of comfortable hindsight. If the film is 'anti' anything it is anti-political dogma of whatever creed.
It is easy to see why some people regard this film as an allegory, or metaphor, for what is currently going on in Iraq. So be it. It is a mark of any true work of art that it lends itself to multiple interpretation, a layering of meaning and content, resistant to any simple message. This is a fine piece of work by a director at the top of his game.