An Ungentlemanly Act

I was still a school when the invasion occurred and I recall watching this movie when it came out and was keen to watch it again once I subscribed to BritBox. Its as good as I remember and worth watching as it depicts how the conflict started and forms part of our history. It feels accurate although the humour is perhaps a little outdated, and the acting is good on both sides. It's amazing how few people died in the initial invasion but of course what followed was a different story altogether.

Politically the issue is still contested by Argentina, but hopefully we won't see a repeat anytime..

This was a very well made TV movie about the Falklands War. Up until that time, the war was depicted in very negative and anti-British terms with efforts like "Sink The Belgrano" (the British as war-mongers) and "Tumbledown" (the British army treats its men with contempt). This is a more balanced effort, and is all the better for it. The Falkland Islands and its people are depicted as a quaint, small town British community, almost like a corner of Somerset or Yorkshire. They live a life that almost embodies an earlier, stereotypical 1950's way far removed from cosmopolitan London. The theme of the film is that of violation. When the Argentinians threaten to invade, the locals close ranks and prepare for the worst; even though they're not sure what that will entail. The Royal Marines, professional to the last, won't give in that easily; they don't want their honour violated. The DJ refuses to have his station violated, the defenders of Government house don't even want the vegetable patch violated. The Argentinians are not the focus of the story and their point of view isn't really delved into; suffice to say General Mendoza comes across as a reasonable person, but a few of his officers are shown as brutal thugs who can't wait to impose their ways on the islanders.

The film came out when anti-Thatcher bias in the British media was high, and it's not an anti-Thatcher piece at all. It goes a little into the British seeming to reduce their commitment to the islands at the beginning, but the impression I was left with was that the islanders were absolutely horrified to be taken over by Argentina. It pits the olde-worlde British village life against the Banana Republic army boot. The acting is first rate (have Ian Richardson or the late lamented Bob Peck ever put in a bad performance?) and the production values are very good.

this film was simply awesome, it captured the shock and surprise of what happened superbly. the cast were fantastic too. however, im disappointed that as far as im aware it has only been screened once, i have tried every avenue possible to track this film on video or dvd. it must exist somewhere, if it does could you tell me where please, or of any plans for future release or showing. i would love to see it again, even better own a copy,

yours hopefully dino angeloni.

A must see. A normal movie based on as we all know a true story. It's a human story, not like most movies seem to be nowadays all about the ridiculous unrealistic exploding car turning machine gun fire nobody killing action. It's about life how it was and how the locals experienced the events taking place. The story line as pictured says it all really. Having been to the Falklands numerous times it's easy to recognize the town, the buildings, the way the people just are, how British they are and proud of it. The movie has besides some well filmed action, where even the proudest and bravest sh.. in their pants of fear, also a lot of humor and just real life stories in it. The tension of the few days the movie covers is very well depicted, you feel one with the characters, you feel like if you were there at the time. And, it's the Falkland Islands, not the M....... as the Argentinians keep trying to make us say. The history of who would have the rights to these islands point to many different directions, but not to Argentina.

Ian Richardson is excellent in the role of the Islands Governor. A well paced and directed film with excellent special effects, costuming, scripting and direction.