An Ungentlemanly Act

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.

Nothing against him as an actor, he's a very good one, but I couldn't think of anyone less well suited to playing Rex Hunt. Ian Richardson is the English Home Counties personified (see him in Francis Urquhart) and Rex Hunt is a Yorkshireman. He could have least have dyed his hair - Hunt didn't have grey hair then, and for all I know, doesn't now!

I wasn't aware that it was filmed in the Falklands, which must have been more than a bit disconcerting for the locals. If I'd been there during the Argentine occupation, the last thing I'd want to hear would be the Argentine national anthem, and the last thing I'd want to see would be cars driving on the right!

So I give it 10 stars - as I write, rated 7.2 from 224 votes - this says it all.

If you have found your way here, and are thinking of watching this film, then don't think twice, regardless of your nationality (including Argentinian/Spanish/South American), this is a great film.

You can watch it with anyone from around 11 years old upwards - even with your granny, and everybody will enjoy the fully immersive experience, that introduces you to, and embeds you in....

... another way of living your life. A strange, yet not strange, life of Britishness in the deep South Atlantic. (so much so that afterwards, many Argentine soldiers talked of the culture shock of fighting for a land that they thought was Argentina, but possessed nothing of Argentina).

But this is NO 'slow build up to ten minutes of action'. 'Action' is pregnant in the air; it comes thick and fast, and the birth isn't easy.

Death is not pleasant at the best of times.... but when it's slow, and just a few feet away from you... yet somehow 'understandable', almost 'normal' (somebody to avoid as you dash for cover... yet not notice because you're dashing for cover).

History itself dealt the perfect cards for this movie, with the threads of island life portrayed in parallel to the bombshell 'last minute knowledge' that an invading force was just a few hours away....

... and the fight was going to be deadly.

You can believe the almost incomprehensible scenario of a foreign power 'actually invading British territory in 1982'.

The shock of this is temporarily diminished, due to the island's size and location (though those thoughts are quickly cast aside by the real life protocols mixed with real life 'tea and cakes'.)

How would the Governor react? The Royal Marines? The population?

We immediately learn the answer to those questions.

The tension ramps up, and the viewer is carried on a wave that is most definitely going to crash.

Everybody knows the conclusion to the Falklands war... but we don't know how this story will end.

Engrossing, intimate, comical, enlightening, violent, sad, joyous, gritty. This movie has it all in spades (along with a pre-fight speech that is all the more awesome by the fact that it was actually delivered to the troops).

At the end (in the wrap)... well... look into the eyes of Major Mike Norman (Bob Peck)... what horrors did he see, when he went back, to re-take the Falklands.

After watching this film.... don't delay.... make sure you watch 'The Falklands Play' to discover what was happening in London at the same time.

Enjoy and reflect.

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..

User - "dinoangeloni" - I have this on DVD - leave a message if you still interested in owning it (20 years later).

A recreation of the first 36 hours of the Falklands conflict. Bob Peck plays Major Mike Norman, who has only recently arrived on the island to take over from Major Noot. Ian Richardson is Governor Sir Rex Hunt, who has only 70 Royal Marines to see off the entire Argentinian invasion fleet. Amid the confusion, several of the islanders simply go about their daily business; one lady offers the Marines tea over her garden fence.