Review of The Siege of Jadotville (2016) by John P — 07 Dec 2016

There are constant echoes of 'Zulu' and even 'Khartoum' in this film - what do you do as a commander, cut off with a small number of men and facing overwhelming numbers in attack? Whilst the usual entertainment, the director misses the trick.

Combat films are so cliche ridden now it is possible to anticipate the whole affair of the battle and if you like explosions it is adequately done albeit with continuity issues.

The real story is why this truly heroic and largely unknown event was allowed to occur, why these troops were used as pawns and whether anyone should have been held accountable. When the movie leaves the shooting and explores the discreditable worlds of international politics and commercial interests it is truly gripping and skilfully engenders a sense of outrage. Yet it is all too ready to get back to the trenches, leaving the actions and accountability of these men in suits frustratingly underexplored. It seems it is easier to write scripts about soldiers shouting 'here they come' than the deft, slick interplay of words both on and behind the international stage.

This movie needed to be made, these Irish soldier's story needed be told so their bravery and determination is recognised, but it could have been a sophisticated and incisive condemnation of how man treats fellow man, instead Michael Caine is always hovering just out of camera shot as yet another pyrotechnic erupts.