Review of Shadow Dancer (2012) by Gary K — 30 May 2013

A young girls innocent-if somewhat cheeky act- of sending her younger brother in her stead to the shop for their father leads to her life being irrevocably tarnished and changed. Her guilt and pain having motivated her and her family to take up the IRA cause. However, following an aborted bombing-then captured by MI5-she finds herself in a catch 22. Turn informer? Or face charges and never see her child & family again?

This is a slow burn, reasoned docu-drama, with a decent period feel. Rather than take sides, the film humanises the various parties involved, which is partly successful, although this suffers from some stereotyping of the IRA & MI5 alike. The key to the films success lies with Andrea RIseborough's performance which holds it all together.

Interesting to see Gillian Anderson playing a part in this "Irish Troubles" effort, as she can also be seen at present on BBC2 playing the senior investigating Officer in a serial killer series set in Ireland.