'71

I don't think everybody will like it, but this film literally hold my breath most of the time. I just couldn't think of anything else after that.

A tense film that works both as a stripped-down action thriller, but also an insight into a very tough and difficult time in British and Irish history. The film focuses on the viewpoint of a young soldier sent to Belfast for the first time and whilst the audience is primed to root for the soldier throughout the film, importantly the film shows the brutality of both sides. The initial confrontation between the soldiers and residents of the community builds tension brilliantly as matters escalate out of control, and the handheld camerawork lends an authenticity and gritty realism to the film without every becoming incoherent. From there the film essentially becomes a sustained chase/hunt as the protagonist battles to stay alive, but each encounter shows the reality of life in a community ripped apart by years of violence, fear and hatred. Well worth a look.