The movie '71'

Last weekend we went to see the movie '71.  It is directed by Yann Demange and stars Jack O'Connell as a British soldier caught up in the 'troubles' in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1971.

Banner for '71

O'Connell plays Gary Hook, a young army recruit who we first see in a prologue going through basic training with his squad -- emphasizing physical endurance and teamwork.  He and his fellow recruits learn that instead of going to Germany as they had expected, they're heading to Belfast to support British forces trying to control the conflict between Roman Catholics and Protestants that has turned that city and the rest of Northern Ireland into a divided war zone.

Before he departs for Belfast with his unit, Gary spends an idyllic military leave with his younger brother (Wikipedia says it's his son, but I disagree) who's living in an orphanage or group home -- they kick a soccer ball around and generally have a good time, although the night porter at the home gives them grief for missing the 5pm curfew.

Suddenly, Hook and his squad are on a military transport to Belfast.  Almost before they can stow their gear they are sent out on a mission to assist in the search for weapons in a Catholic neighborhood of Belfast.  A small riot ensues; one of the squad members is injured; while the squad is engaged in saving him a kid grabs a dropped rifle and runs off with it; Hook and another soldier chase after the kid; someone shoots Hook's comrade in the face; in all of the confusion the squad jumps in their vehicles and departs; Hook and his dead comrade are left behind.

Over the next 24 hours Hook is on his own in the Catholic neighborhood.  Not able to tell friend from foe, ally from enemy, Hook runs, hides, accepts assistance, gets blown-up, fixed-up and finally saved -- but not before he uncovers a double-agent who seems to be working with both sides in the conflict.  

With all of the strange accents and dialects, it's hard for an American to grasp this in detail as it unfolds, but it ultimately becomes clear that the film-makers use the audience's frustration to simulate the disorientation of Hook's predicament -- whom to trust when there are no uniforms or other identifying characteristics about those he encounters?  There are final plot twists that will leave you gasping and questioning your previous conclusions about who the good guys are.

There is a short epilogue where Hook returns to Britain and reclaims his younger brother/son from the group home.  The last scene shows them on the bus back to their home in the countryside.

This movie is really about urban guerrilla warfare -- whether it's Vietnam or Northern Ireland; Iraq or Afghanistan; Mosul or Homs.  Being unable to identify your enemies until they attempt to kill you is bewildering and terrifying -- and probably causes PTSD.  

Comments on the Movie 'Starred Up'

Thursday afternoon we went to the Walter Reade Theater of the Film Society of Lincoln Center to see 'Starred Up', a movie directed by David Mackenzie and written by Jonathan Asser.  It's is based on Asser's experiences as a volunteer therapist working with some of Britain's most violent criminals.  It was filmed in two former British prisons.

Official poster for 'Starred Up'

The term 'starred up' is used in Britain to describe juvenile offenders who are placed in adult prisons because of they are too violent for the juvenile detention system.  Eric Love (played by Jack O'Connell) is a 'starred up' 19-year-old who we see being transferred to the adult prison where the rest of the action occurs.  The prison is so loosely run and the dialects of the inmates and prison staff are so difficult to understand that much of the movie unfolds in a befuddling haze (kind of like watching a foreign film without subtitles).  Neville Love (Ben Mendelsohn) is an older inmate apparently higher up on the prisoner food chain and (according to the reviews) Eric's father.  Neville arranges for Eric to go to anger management meetings run by Oliver Baumer (Rupert Friend) -- the Asser surrogate.  There are four or five black inmates in the group when Eric joins.  It seems like the prison warden and her staff are looking for an excuse to either shut down Oliver's program or put Eric in solitary confinement -- probably both.  Things happen.  Dialogue is mumbled and occasionally spoken.  Prisoners mill around (pretty freely for a prison).  People get punched and stabbed and hosed and handcuffed.

It all ends when Neville is transferred out to another prison, leaving Eric to fend for himself.  The beginning and ending are clear.  Everything else is a muddle of violence and mumbling.  The movie has won a few British awards and got decent American reviews, but I'm not recommending it.