Sunday, August 7, 2016

Foreign Movie Review: FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN (2009) A+


Made in Ireland: subtitles needed

Very unusual, VERY well acted (Liam Neeson, James Nesbitt) and emotionally powerful movie about the relationship between the Catholics and Protestants during the war that went on in Northern Ireland in February, 1975.  
A Seventeen year-old Protestant (named Alistair) kills the Catholic Jimmy Griffin in his house in front of his younger brother Joe Griffin. Alistair is arrested and imprisoned for twelve years while Joe is blamed by his mother for not saving his brother. Thirty-three years later, a "Reality" TV program promotes the meeting of Alistair and Joe in a house in Northern Ireland, expecting the viewers to witness the truth and the reconciliation of the murderer and the victim in real time. 
As you would expect, the movie doesn't end on a happy note.
I personally do not believe in the concept of Truth and Reconciliation Commissions similar to the one created by Desmond Tutu in South Africa. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_and_Reconciliation_Commission_(South_Africa)

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