Movie spotlight
A private security contractor in Iraq rejects the official explanation of his friend's death and decides to investigate.
Two former British soldiers, Dave and Fergus, are drawn back into the dangerous world of private military contracting when Dave's former boss offers him a lucrative job in Iraq. Dave, needing the money for his family, accepts, unaware of the deadly consequences that await him and his friend.
Route Irish received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who praised its unflinching portrayal of the Iraq War's human cost and the complex moral ambiguities faced by private military contractors. While some found its pacing deliberate, many commended Loach's signature realist style and the powerful performances of the cast.
A stark and moving examination of the personal toll of the Iraq War.
Loach's trademark social realism is effectively applied to the morally murky world of private military companies.
Features strong performances, particularly from Mark Womack.
Google audience: Audience reviews generally highlight the film's powerful and realistic depiction of the difficult and often grim realities of war and its aftermath, with many appreciating its emotional impact and the strong performances.
Selected for screening in the Directors' Fortnight section at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.
Director Ken Loach chose to film on location in Liverpool and Spain to represent the various settings of the film, aiming for authenticity in depicting the stark contrast between the soldiers' home lives and their experiences in the conflict zones.
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A man, Fergus (Mark Womack), has come home to bury his friend. They shared dreams once, of going abroad, seeing the world, and they did, as soldiers, but only one of them came back. He died on the Route Irish, a road while picking up a jour...