Unsettling, but amazing: a non-political view

Rating: 10/10 (2 November 2006)

As an Australian who is sufficiently ignorant about the Irish war of independence to not be voting based on a political view, I have to say I found this film powerful, beautifully filmed and very moving. The performances were natural and believable, the characters were interesting and the violence was raw and suitably horrific. I don't know a great deal about Ireland's history, but I didn't really find this film overwhelmingly one-sided. While it's fair to say the story is told through Damien's eyes, the overall package seemed to be a disconcertingly anti-heroic film, in which loss and consequence take centre-stage. The question - was it worth it? - rings throughout the film, and is never really answered in the affirmative.