Cinematic excellence, but may be difficult for some

Rating: 8/10 (30 October 2006)

I found this film difficult to watch. War brings out the worst in human nature. Things that normal, rational human beings would not normally do, they do with fervour. Criminals get to not only legitimise their behaviour, but are lauded as heroes for it. Mob mentality, under the banner of patriotism, rules. Good people are damned. And nothing has changed in the current political climate, which is perhaps the subtext of this film.
I didn't find the depiction of the British caricatured. The Black & Tans were virtual assassination squads, and the brutality is comparable to what goes on to this day. Think Abu Ghraib, East Timor, Camp Delta at Guantanamo Bay or even the police beatings recently publicised in Melbourne  not pretty stuff.
While the film could be wrongly seen as anti-British, I think it's anti-war. It simply depicts what the British did. But the Irish were also involved in atrocities, and the war tore them apart (just like what's happening in Iraq). This is why war should always be avoided at all costs.
The film depicts the devastating emotional impact on families and communities with a rare, unglorified realism. The cinematography and period reproduction were absolutely sensational. This film is a strong cinematic contribution by an important director. Technically, the film was first class, but I find it hard to give a higher score because of the difficulty of the subject matter.