'71

(49th KVIFF) The festival’s action peak. A tense war movie full of adrenaline that takes place over one night in Belfast during the Troubles. A likeable rookie soldier is thrown in the middle of a raging fight and will have to work hard to survive because, due to some unhappy circumstances, everyone is after him. When an annoying, smart-ass lad shows up, I feared that things would go to hell, but those fears didn’t last long. I have only one problem with this film, and that is with the rather unfortunate casting choice of having two characters on opposite sides of the barricade played by two very similar actors. Which, given that the story involves various double-crosses, conspiracies, negotiations with the enemy, and so on, makes it quite difficult to follow. (12/07/2014)

For me, the fighting in Northern Ireland is hard to understand. It just confirms that every nation, and not just in Europe, suffers from its own stigmas that might affect it. The camera, however, is great, and the atmosphere literally explosive, despite the fact that most of the film takes place on the streets of Belfast. Given how small-scale this film is, it’s a very interesting introduction into the world of fighting for independence. (16/10/2019)

A solid film depicting the conflict in Northern Ireland, specifically in Belfast, where a likeable British soldier is accidentally left in the middle of a city torn by a chaotic war and everyone is after him. Even though the Irish hate the British with all their hearts for what they have done to them in the past, the film emphasizes that they were no saints either. Gritty, authentic, suspenseful and very interesting. Silly me for ignoring this film for so long. 8/10 (12/12/2019)

I can handle the Belfast Circus. The hideous wallpaper, the worker's cottages, the narrow streets, the burning cars and smoky bars where explosives are assembled in the back rooms, that's for me. '71 is also shot on film with a distinctive grain, which combined with the zooming and the frequent shaky-cam and multi-layer shots adds to the documentary feel, despite the fact that the film is basically scripted as a total actioner about a weak individual navigating a maelstrom of major events. The first half, in particular, is absolutely perfect, and the second half sees the always loveable Sean Harris commanding attention. (26/07/2015)

I thought it would be just another British movie trying to be action-packed, but this is a different piece. It is historical, but it primarily presents the fate of one person in a time and place that are not friendly to life. Cruelty is shown here, a lot of senselessness, there is paranoia and an endless fight for life. Intense and powerful. (29/12/2014)