71
Running time: 99 mins
Jack OConnell (Unbroken) stars as a rookie British soldier separated from his unit in a gripping, politically charged thriller. 1971, at the height of The Troubles: Gary (O'Connell) and Thommo (Jack Lowden) are teenage British army recruits, still in training. The situation gets real, however, when their unit is thrust into the line of fire and dispatched to Belfast in Northern Ireland. Needless to say, the situation gets out of hand, and when Gary is separated from the rest of his squad, he finds himself alone in the midst of a highly unpredictable war zone. Vulnerable and isolated, he must rely on instincts while facing imminent danger. '71 marks a startling debut from Yann Demange, who directs with extraordinary confidence to create a thrilling combination of political - drama and suspenseful action. - Michael Rabehl