DIR: Oliver Hirschbiegel • WRI: Guy Hibbert • PRO: Eoin O’Callaghan, Stephen Wright • DOP: Ruairi O’Brien • ED: Hans Funck • DES: Mark Lowry • CAST: Liam Neeson, James Nesbitt, Anamaria Marinca
The collaboration of Oliver Hirschbeigel (director of Downfall) and Guy Hibbert (writer of Omagh) is a wholly inspired choice for this reflection of the troubled history of Northern Ireland. While Five Minutes of Heaven may struggle under the expectations of this partnership, it remains an intriguing and thought-provoking look at a world still largely misunderstood.
The film tells the personal tale of two fictional victims of this hostile world, linked by the murder of 19-year-old Jim Griffin. One is Alistair Little (Leeson), Jim Griffin’s murderer, and the other is Joe Griffin (Nesbitt) – Jim’s younger brother and sole witness to said murder. Although the film presents both as victims, both men appear sympathetic and unlikable in equal measures, allowing audiences to decide their own beliefs on the topic at hand and creating thrilling moments of terrific drama.
However, the superb drama eventually deflates with a conclusion both underwhelming and unsatisfying. Still, this remains a must for anyone interested in the troubled history of Northern Ireland, and remains a solid slice of cinema for everyone else.
Michael Peers
Five Minutes of Heaven is released on 27th February 2009.
