Boy Soldier

As a Northern Irish exile the subject matter here was of intrinsic interest. A Welsh soldier (Richard Lynch in a strong central performance) becomes aware of the contradictions involved in policing the Irish. When he shoots a rioter in self-defense during what it has to be said is a most unconvincing riot he is arrested and subjected to what I hope is exaggerated prison brutality.

The languages of the film are Welsh and English including a rare opportunity to hear "Heartbreak Hotel sung in Welsh but the Northern Irish accents come and go a bit and the style of this drama is most fragmented.

While on patrol in Northern Ireland a young Welsh squaddie inadvertently kills an IRA gunman in self defense and is imprisoned by his own army on charges of murder, where he suffers both the indignities of mistreatment and the more intimate torture of his own memories. His British captors want to break his spirit, but he stubbornly refuses to admit any guilt, and does what he can to retaliate from within his strict confinement. The story itself is only a small human drama within a larger, more ambiguous conflict, presenting a portrait of a boy caught between his loyalty to the army and his love for an 'enemy' Catholic girl, set against a gritty, background of Irish urban warfare. It may lack the glossy appeal of a big budget production, but with its choppy, fragmented style (closely approximating the impressions and memories of its protagonist) the film speaks with an urgency befitting the issues it confronts, taking a fresh look at an old wound that may never be allowed to heal.

It's a long time since I saw this film but I remember it especially for the conflict between the young squaddie (British soldier) and the sargeant who is trying to stitch him up for the murder of a catholic. The film makes the classic points about poor working class lads being recruited into the army. The twist of this story is that the young lad is from a poor Welsh speaking, deprived area who over time begins to empthasize with the struggle of the Irish against the British army occupation.

If you come across this it is definitely worth seeing.

Will Thomas is a young working class Welsh boy with no prospects who joins the British army. Sent to Northern Ireland during the Troubles, he is arrested after a shooting on a patrol and subjected to severe treatment by his senior officers who want him to plead guilty to murder.

Powerful and at times harrowing story of a young boy caught up in British politics after being put in a position with no backup when he most expected it. Richard Lynch impresses as Wil who finds himself increasingly turning against the army and empathising with the locals.

I Saw this film many years ago and to my knowledge I don't believe it has been shown on Australian TV since maybe 1987/88. The film highlights some of the problems soldiers faced serving in NI. I didn't mind the dialog going occasionally into Welsh as I think it made it more authentic. I wonder actually what the MOD thought of the movie when it came out. Sometimes some of the smaller budget movies with lesser known actors are the best. Overall I thought it was a well acted movie.

I wonder if anyone out there knows if this is available on video or DVD? Would love to get a copy if possible, have searched the Net but to no avail. Even if there is any accompanying book? cheers - Peter, pslpom@yahoo.com