Oliver Hirschbiegel (Das Experiment, Der Untergang) heads back to Europe for his latest film after the trainwreck that was The Invasion (although who knows, maybe his cut was good before other writers and directors were brought in to change it up). Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt star as two men revisiting their past involvement in violent conflict in Northern Ireland circa 1975.
Lurgan Northern Ireland, 1975. A low level civil war has been underway, with the IRA targeting British loyalists and the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force exacting revenge on Catholics they claim are militant republicans. Alistair Little, 16 is the leader of a UVF cell, eager to be blooded. He and his gang are given the go ahead to kill a young Catholic man, James Griffin, as a reprisal and a warning to others. When the hit is carried out, Joe Griffin – the 11-year old little brother of the target – watches in horror his brother is shot in the head. Thirty years later Joe Griffin and Alistair are to meet, on camera, with a view to reconciliation. Alistair has served his sentence, and peace may have been agreed to in N. Ireland, but Joe Griffin is not coming on the program for a handshake. Unbeknownst to the production team, he intends to stick a knife in his brother’s killer – live on air.
Could be interesting depending on how it’s all executed. My perspectives on life don’t always allow me much sympathy for people and/or characters with blind devotions to family or can’t move beyond ancient history. I like the cast and the director, so I’d give Five Minutes of Heaven a shot.
IFC is releasing Five Minutes of Heaven on August 21st.
