The 2016 Netflix war drama 'The Siege of Jadotville' recounts the true story of an Irish Army unit during the Congo Crisis, and fans are calling it a 'must-watch' to learn about the real-life 'heroes'.
True Story of Irish UN Peacekeepers
The film, directed by Richie Smyth and written by Kevin Brodbin, is an Irish and South African co-production. It is adapted from Declan Power's book of the same title, which details the experiences of the Irish UN contingent during the Siege of Jadotville.
Set between 1960 and 1965, the story unfolds amid political turmoil and violence in a region of Congo, following the execution of Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba and the outbreak of civil war. The film reveals the harsh realities of combat that have been largely overlooked by mainstream media.
Fans Praise the Film
Jamie Dornan stars as the Irish Army officer commanding the UN contingent. He said the real-life veterans "didn't get the recognition they deserved" and was delighted to highlight their "heroic" efforts.
One fan wrote on Rotten Tomatoes: "One of the best war movies around! I had no idea about this story, a total injustice to these guys, total heroes!" Another added: "Amazing true story of real-life heroes.' Great movie, well-told story, great acting. A must see."
A third fan commented: "So many other war films seem slightly cheesy in comparison to this one. It's full of realistic battlefield action - and I mean FULL. Refreshingly, unlike so many others of the same genre, it doesn't suffer from too much pathos. Whether it really is historically accurate I have no idea, but it certainly rang of the truth to me. Highly recommended!"
Cast and Production
The cast includes Emmanuelle Seigner as Madame LaFontagne, Jason O'Mara as Jack Prendergast, Mikael Persbrandt as Dag Hammarskjöld, and Mark Strong as Conor Cruise O'Brien. Their portrayals paid tribute to the real individuals who faced these difficulties.
To ensure authentic performances, director Richie Smythe subjected the cast to a training camp in South Africa before shooting. His efforts were praised by one viewer: "Absolutely worth watching. This is an incredible true story on valour, determination and intelligence against brutal force."
The film, which won three Irish Film & Television Awards, is currently streaming exclusively on Netflix.
