Review of Titanic Town (1998) by Trevor J — 14 Feb 2012

The ultimate underdog story in more ways than one, Titanic Town slipped mostly under the radar from its release to the present day, perhaps burrowing too deep into a niche subject. Don't let this put you off - this is a surprising, emotionally intense and involving drama, even for we who have little connection to the Troubles. Never caving in and becoming 'worthy' or, more importantly, sentimental, it offers a more personal, affecting view of the blackest era of modern UK history, keeping the tragedy within the confines of a small close-knit neighbourhood / bloodied battlefield.

Walters and Hinds, whilst a seemingly odd fit for a couple, are both marvellous; the former perfectly handling the tragic nature of the story with a hint of pluckiness that keeps the film from pure dirge, the latter capturing the animated, misanthropic nature of his character with plenty of believability. Credit too is due to the children, particularly O'Neill, who is superb, and carries the film as much as its two stars.

Another plus point is the script - though in a heated debate people probably would not be realistically able to form such magniloquently articulated points and put-downs, the quality of the dialogue shines through, especially in the more dramatic moments; far and away the highlights, particularly the finale. Tell a story about the Troubles, it's probably going to be tragic. Tell a true story about the Troubles, it's definitely going to be tragic.