Review of Five Minutes of Heaven (2009) by Thom P — 25 Jun 2009

I stumbled onto this movie just after coming home from Ireland. Throughout the trip we didn't hear very much talk about the "Troubles" between Ireland and the Brits but occassionally someone would say a disparaging remark about a person from England. It was clear the tourists weren't supposed to have to be dragged into the debate. However, knowledge of the history made me look for any info. On the way to the airport we heard a tremendous radio interview with a guy who grew up in Belfast and suffered bitterly. The same week his older brother got killed and his uncle was shot, this poor soul was in a school playground and trouble erupted. The next thing he knew he was on his way to the hospital after being shot with a rubber bullet. I don't remember how old he was but I think he was 8 or 9. The effect was he was blinded by a British soldier. During the show I was amazed at how he was able to keep from being bitter and angry at the soldier. Over the years the soldier repeatedly stated he had no remorse. In the end when the blind fellow finally tracked him down to tell him he held no anger for him, the soldier broke down and admitted he was wrong and terribly sorry.

I tell this story because Ireland is going through a program of healing that involves getting people together from both sides of some wrong in the past so they can move on. The plot of this movie follows two such guys one at age 17 killed a guy sitting in his den watching TV right in front of his kid brother. The kid brother years later is scheduled to meet his brothers killer and resolve it. Instead he plans to attack him. The killer kin of knows this but he is so overwhelmed with guilt he is willing to face anything.

The accents, the scenery and the emotions all come across to deliver the most poignant movie I have seen in many years. Liam Neeson should get an Oscar for this film.

The language is rough and I wish they could have toned it down but I get the sense the Irishmen are much more liberal in their use of vulgarity. We certainly heard plenty even from our tour bus drivers and one was a girl!

I would suggest seeing this movie but be prepared to use up some tissues and to be angered by the way these two boys were victimized by their own families and communities.