Jack O’Connell (Starred Up) gives another notable performance in Yann Demange’s hotly awaited feature debut ’71.
It depicts a violent Belfast at the height of the Troubles in 1971 with O’Connell starring as new recruit Private Gary Hook, a British soldier who faces dire consequences when he is separated from his unit during a riot in the city.
Unable to tell friend from foe, or informer, and fearing capture by IRA attackers and the almost inevitable torture or killing that would ensue, he must to try to slip unseen through the deadly, embattled streets where everyone is watching.
Demange’s focus on his protagonist is gripping, but alongside he draws attention not just to Gary’s plight but also towards the palpable despair of a city riddled with violence, making this a visceral recreation of the Troubles as well as a superbly effective thriller.