British Film "71" The Year of Bloody Battles in Belfast

This intense historic drama is a harsh portrayal of the tumultuous & bloody fighting that ensued in N. Ireland in 1971. The animosity between Catholics & Protestants within a small radius sparked bombings & shootings that turned the country into a civil war zone.  The British sent their militia into the strained relations of a combustible city adding to the bloodbath.  Dir. Yann Demange is making an impressive directorial debut with "71."  It captures the look & tensions in Belfast '71 which makes the complex problems seem more baffling.  "We look after our own," was a refrain from all fractions pitting neighbors v. neighbors.  The violence is awash with omnipresent alcohol and guns sweeping everyone up in its wake.  A British soldier becomes separated from his unit.  He is hunted down like an animal through the ominous & abandoned streets.  The soldier's struggle to remain alive is terrifying.  The dark settings makes this an artsy, moody thriller.  There are moments of ultruistic humanity that juxtapose the senseless killings & brutalities. Demange's powerful historic imagery & storytelling evoke the horrors of being in the midst of a civil war.  He  received the BAFT Award for outstanding debut by a British director.  This debut portends a brilliant future in filmmaking with his look back to a very dark period in history.