The Siege of Jadotville (2016)
3.7 of 5 from 49 ratings
1h 48min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
The film opens with the assassination of left-wing Congolese Prime Minister Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba and the outbreak of civil war. As the mineral rich State of Katanga secedes under the leadership of Moise Tshombe, United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammerskjöld assigns Conor Cruise O'Brien to head up a UN peacekeeping mission. Privately, Hammerskjöld tells O'Brien that the Katanga crisis could trigger World War III and orders the Irish diplomat to take offensive action. Meanwhile, Irish Army Commandant Pat Quinlan commands an infantry company of Irish peacekeepers who arrive at the UN compound near Jadotville. After examining the compound, Quinlan decides that it is wide open to attack and orders his men to dig trenches. While buying food in the nearest town, Quinlan meets French mercenary Rene Faulques, who has been hired by the mining companies allied to Tshombe's Government. Afterwards, he visits the estate of a Belgian colonist, Madam LaFongagne, who tells him that Jadotville contains the world's richest uranium deposits. Meanwhile, O'Brien orders UN forces to launch an attack against Government buildings held by the Katangese in Elizabethville. While Indian peacekeepers are attempting to seize the city's radio station, thirty unarmed Katangese are killed by gunfire and grenades. O'Brien orders the incident to be swept under the rug. In retaliation, Faulques receives orders to attack Jadotville. Katangese forces and mercenaries under Faulques, attack and besiege the Irish. During a brief ceasefire, Faulques vainly demands Quinlan's surrender. Quinlan refuses, and his company is attacked repeatedly in separate waves by the Katangese/mercenary forces. They kill a total of 300 enemy soldiers, and wound 1,000 enemy soldiers, with zero Irish deaths and only 16 Irish wounded. After many extended waves of battle, the Irish company is forced to surrender to Faulques's troops after running out of ammunition. They are held in a Katangese prison for about a month, then are freed in a prisoner exchange deal and are allowed to go home. - Actors:
- Jamie Dornan, Mark Strong, Michael McElhatton, Emmanuelle Seigner, Mikael Persbrandt, Jason O'Mara, Fionn O'Shea, Ronan Raftery, Guillaume Canet, Fiona Glascott, Sam Keeley, Danny Sapani, Danny Keogh, Conor MacNeill, Charlie Kelly, Mike Noble, Melissa Haiden, Robert Hobbs, Garth Breytenbach, Ashish Gangapersad
- Directors:
- Richie Smyth
- Writers:
- Kevin Brodbin, Declan Power
- Aka:
- Jadotville
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Drama, Thrillers
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