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Title: Five Minutes of Heaven (2009)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Mark Ryder | ... |
Young Alistair - 1975
(as Mark Davison)
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Diarmuid Noyes | ... | |
| Niamh Cusack | ... |
Alistair's Mum - 1975
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Mathew McElhinney | ... | |
| Conor MacNeill | ... | ||
| Paul Garrett | ... |
Alistair's Dad - 1975
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Kevin O'Neill | ... | |
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Gerard Jordan | ... | |
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Paula McFetridge | ... |
Joe's Mum - 1975
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Gerry Doherty | ... |
Joe's Dad - 1975
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Luke O'Reilly | ... | |
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Luke McEvoy | ... | |
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Aoibheann Biddle | ... | |
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Ruth Matthewson | ... | |
| Carol Moore | ... | ||
In February, 1975, in Northern Ireland, seventeen year-old UVF member Alistair Little kills the catholic Jimmy Griffin in his house in Lurgan in front of his younger brother Joe Griffin. Alistair is arrested and imprisoned for twelve years while Joe is blamed by his mother for not saving his brother. Thirty-three years later, a TV promotes the meeting of Alistair and Joe in a house in River Finn, expecting the truth and the reconciliation of the murderer and the victim who actually seeks five minutes of heaven. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
James Nesbitt and Liam Neeson are making this film a great and heartfelt story of reconciliation, as well as telling about reasons for both hatred and acts of terrorism.
All this in one film is difficult enough, and this is all made in 80 minutes. Liam Neeson is of course the one getting the prizes, but actually this is Oscar-material by James Nesbitt. So strong, it actually seems impossible that he can have a life beside it all. He's done well, but is still nagged by what he saw as eleven.
The story is about an 11 year old Joe (Nesbitt) watching his brother being assassinated by a 17 year old Protestant youngster (Neeson) wanting to be a terrorist during the civil war in Norther Ireland. 35 years later it's time to settle what has ruined the lives of both of them. They are not living, but merely existing, and not a day goes without being haunted by this killing.
The film is intense, and several times you wonder where it'll end. For some the end might not be what they ask for, but I think it makes the story strong. However - it's not the end that makes this movie, it's the ideas and the acting. Also some of the filming is superb, and is recognizable also for director Oliver Hirschbiegel and his work on Der Untergang (Downfall) describing the last days of Hitler. Very impressive from the whole team!