Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

Dotbankey A lot of fun.

BallWubba Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

hkim-5 It is an enjoyable movie based loosely on real life events at the World War 2 era internment camp in Ireland where combatants from both Allied and Axis forces who wound up on Irish soil were placed in, as long as you don't think too much about the obvious. It is rather shallow and stereotyped on the whole, although it is quite well done in certain aspects. The extreme history buffs, those who know the actual background of Irish neutrality and Eire's relations with both Britain and Germany at this time extremely well, could nitpick over some of the history as depicted in the film, but on the whole, the movie does get most of the history fairly accurately. There is plenty of good material that could have been developed better here, besides the (mostly) accurate historical background. There is genuine dramatic tension among so many of the characters: the complex love-hate relationship between the Irish and the British (e.g. the camp commandant was a guest of the camp himself when it was a British prison camp for Irish political prisoners or how the family members of many Irish families around the camp are serving in the British Army), the unease among the prisoners about being in an easy-going internment while their friends and families are in a war where they are being killed or maimed (the German sailor who commits suicide over his family being killed in an air raid and the excessive brutality and super-nationalistic attitude of some German officers, for example), and of course, the whole premise about enemies in war having to be civil towards each other in a neutral country under unwilling circumstances, etc. None of these themes really gets developed clearly, in part because all of these are just mentioned too quickly and are left behind without being really developed, and also, to a large degree because most of the actors are, for the most part, rather wooden and their dialogue a bit too clichéd (Campbell, playing Miles Keough, is especially guilty of this as is Jean Butler, but at least, for the latter, it is her acting debut in a feature film, as far as I know. Byrne, with his character's interesting background as a former political prisoner turned camp commandant, could have played more of a role, but he is almost entirely a background character.) Given how underdeveloped and scatterbrained the overall film seems, the end narration seems like an evasive cop-out. It is annoying also that the writers seem completely undecided on whether Keogh is an actual Canadian or an American serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force, as he is referred to as both at different times in the film. (Historically, there was only one American in the camp, who did escape, and was sent back by the British authorities, as per what happens to the indisputably American RAF pilot in the film. Most Allied personnel at the camp did leave the camp before the war was over, as the Irish government repatriated most, if not all, Allied internees some time in 1943 (but it is at least a year after the film's end) although the Germans had to stay on until the war ended.)

Joker-26 This one kind of slipped under the radar. It didn't enjoy a long cinematic release but the themes it touches on are fairly original and thought provoking.Gabriel Byrne plays another of those quirky roles he indulges in from time to time, this time as Commandant of an Irish internment camp, perhaps the most relaxed POW camp ever in the history of modern warfare. However, the two main characters play downed Allied and Luftwaffe airmen who clash over their respective sides ideologies and war aims, as well as vying for the attentions of 'Riverdance' star Jean Butler. Escape from the camp is pointless as both the British and German governments have struck an agreement with Ireland to return escapees so as to prevent 'embarrasing' the Irish and perhaps forcing the country to side with either the Allies/Axis. I'm as yet unsure as to the historical accuracy of this 'deal'. However, as far as I know, Dublin was more sympathetic to the Allied cause and often allowed captured Allied sailors/airmen to return to England whilst generally interning the Germans. During the film, one of the maids hints at this sympathetic line when stating how 'disgraceful' it was that the Brits were being held whilst 1000s of Irishmen were fighting with the 8th Army in North Africa.In the film, the detainees of both sides are allowed day passes to leave the camp, the Irish knowing full well that if the Allied troops flee to the North, they'll just be sent back anyway. Presumably it was a little harder for the Germans to get back home! This sort of relaxed attitude towards the interned soldiers was apparently the norm in Ireland during the 'Emergency' (as the Irish govt referred to WW2!). My grandfather told a story of a German Me-110 crashing near a golf course in north county Dublin during the 'Blitz' of London (how he ended up as far west as Dublin is a mystery). The locals went out to help the uninjured pilot and brought him back for a hearty Irish breakfast at the club house! A while later the police turned up, broke up the impromptu party and took the young airman into captivity. A similar scene is enacted at the start of the film when we see the survivors of a downed RAF bomber drinking stout in a pub (with the local police no less) before an Irish officer enters the pub and arrests the men.Apparently shot on the Isle of Man, with stunning locations, original, warm and often amusing script, as well as a good array of acting talent (Angus Macfadyn playing the German officer, Joe McGann as the brutish but-in-a-nice-sort-of-way Camp guard, and Texan William McNamara were particularly outstanding I thought) add up to a very watchable film. A few criticisms would include zee German accents (why don't they hire German actors and speak in German?), and perhaps the clichéd portrayal of the locals (i.e. getting together down de local pub and all yelping and dancing for joy, as only Oirish peasants can do ya know!). A particularly cringe moment was Jean Butler actually doing her 1995 half flamenco/half Irish Riverdance.....if she had done that in 1941, the locals probably would've proclaimed her possessed by the devil! Anyway, apart from that ridiculous mini-scene, Butler gave a very convincing performance. Pity we haven't seen much of that fiery red head since.

jhluxton An excellent film - really enjoyable.Though if one reads historical accounts about the exploits of allied and German internees in Ireland during WWII fact was even more strange than depicted in this film! Jean Butler played her part well considering her lack of previous film appearances she should be in more movies. Angus MacFadyen is superb as the Luftwaffe pilot, his aloof arrogance is tempered by his sense of fair play and humanity.A wonderful film which I enjoyed - the Isle of Man made a good surrogate for Ireland.

rcknrobn This was a great movie of the hardships of the pilots during the war. It was a moving story that brought me to tears and laughter throughout the movie. It was beautifully done with all the actors involved. I thought Bill Campbell brought a real life feeling to the character that he portrayed. He is of course an excellent actor. It was almost like being there along side of those men who were there. I have watched this movie on several occasions, because I was able to purchase this one. It is rare that such a moving picture is released, but this one is surely a keeper. All of those who get the chance to view this movie, certainly should. I think it should receive an academy award, but who am I. I suggest this movie should be watched if at all possible. A few months ago, HBO had an airing of this wonderful movie, and I was unable to resist watching it at more than one occasion.