This film is fully committed to the director's political stance on Ireland - and this is both its great strength and its main flaw. On the one hand it is gripping and driven and the sheer force of the conviction makes this a compelling film. However like many Ken Loach films it is very one sided and lacks subtlety - eg all English people are either toffs or thugs and even the IRA soldiers who supported the treaty are viewed negatively. However on balance I would highly recommend this film if nothing else for its highly committed ideological stance.
A film worth seeing - it explores the political situation in Ireland in the 1920s with a war of independence against the British turning into a civil war. The film has a very definite political bias towards the non-Treaty IRA and against the English and the Free Staters. A more even handed approach might have made for a more gripping drama.
this is a true to life thought provoking film, with a well written script and superb acting,I rate this film highly, a very enjoyable film that I am sure will get many good reviews,with no fear of competition from films of a similar content.