Oscar-winning drama starring Stephen Rea, Miranda Richardson and Forest Whitaker. Jody, a black British soldier serving in Armagh, is kidnapped by an IRA group who intend to exchange him for one of their imprisoned members. While being held hostage, Jody slowly forms a friendship with his guard Fergus and, fearing for his safety, tells him to look after his lover back in London - the enigmatic hairdresser Dil.
Something of a sleeper release, this offbeat tale went on to become a monster hit in America and even earned an Oscar for best original screenplay for writer/director Neil Jordan. It's a beguiling, eccentric blend of romantic drama and political thriller, and at its centre is a charismatic performance from Stephen Rea. He plays an IRA terrorist who flees to London after the botched kidnapping of a British soldier, played somewhat unconvincingly by Forest Whitaker. Ridden with guilt, he locates the dead man's former lover (an extraordinary performance from Jaye Davidson that was deservedly Oscar-nominated) and finds himself falling in love. After a series of Hollywood flops, this marked a major return to form for Jordan. And the future also looked rosy for Davidson, who won a major role in Stargate but has done little of significance since.
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Fergus | Stephen Rea |
| Jude | Miranda Richardson |
| Dil | Jaye Davidson |
| Jody | Forest Whitaker |
| Maguire | Adrian Dunbar |
| Tinker | Breffni McKenna |
| Eddie | Joe Savino |
| Tommy | Birdie Sweeney |
| Jane | Andrée Bernard |
| Col | Jim Broadbent |
| Dave | Ralph Brown (2) |
| Deveroux | Tony Slattery |
| Franknum | Jack Carr |
| Bar performer | Josephine White |
| Judge | Brian Coleman |
| Security man | Ray De-Haan |
| Bar performer | Shar Campbell |
| Security man | David Crionelly |
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Director | Neil Jordan |
