I remember seeing this when first broadcast and it's been repeated several times since.
Solid performances all around and a tight little story about a family in flux: the dad is a pacifist, one brother a wannabe soccer goalie and the other an army squaddie who is about to be sent off to Northern Ireland. While at first glance it appears to be a straightforward sibling rivalry drama, it neatly and indirectly dealt with the "Irish problem" in a deftly poetic way. This was at a time of renewed terrorism on the UK mainland, and a turning point in UK-Irish relations, so it was rare to see this on TV then and a bold gesture by the filmmakers.
Good to see Absolutely Fabulous's Julia Sawalha in a very different role and the gifted Olivier award-winning John Bardon as the soccer coach. Great editing by Oscar-nominated Nick Moore and fab-looking camera-work by Terminator 3/Tomb Raider DP Ben Seresin.
Job well done!
Solid performances all around and a tight little story about a family in flux: the dad is a pacifist, one brother a wannabe soccer goalie and the other an army squaddie who is about to be sent off to Northern Ireland. While at first glance it appears to be a straightforward sibling rivalry drama, it neatly and indirectly dealt with the "Irish problem" in a deftly poetic way. This was at a time of renewed terrorism on the UK mainland, and a turning point in UK-Irish relations, so it was rare to see this on TV then and a bold gesture by the filmmakers.
Good to see Absolutely Fabulous's Julia Sawalha in a very different role and the gifted Olivier award-winning John Bardon as the soccer coach. Great editing by Oscar-nominated Nick Moore and fab-looking camera-work by Terminator 3/Tomb Raider DP Ben Seresin.
Job well done!
