Blind Flight (2003)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

John Furse

Writer:

John Furse (writer)

Release Date:

9 April 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The true story of Irishman Brian Keenan and Englishman John McCarthy's extraordinary relationship as hostages of militias in Lebanon during the 1979-91 Civil War.

Plot Keywords:

Hostage | Kidnapper | Irish | Terrorist | Torture

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Bassem Breish	...	Joker
Mohamad Chamas	...	Abed
Brian Devlin	...	Seamus the Publican
Stephen Don	...	RUC Officer
Dany El Khoury	...	Rida
Lynn Farleigh	...	John's Mother
Ian Hart	...	Brian Keenan
Ziad Lahoud	...	Said
Aine Ni Mhuiri	...	Brian's Mum
Nayef Rashed	...	Militia leader
Linus Roache	...	John McCarthy
Paddy Rocks	...	Brian's Dad
Calum Whyte	...	Belfast Boy

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:15 | Iceland:16

Company:

Parallax Pictures

Two men kidnapped by terrorists, what could be worse? One is British and the other is Irish...uh-oh!

This film is basically what you would call a 'two-hander' in theater parlance, as the main action revolves around two men who have been kidnapped in Beirut in the 1980's. Based on the true story (screenplay was co-written by the author) of Irishman 'Brian Keenan' who was kept in captivity for 4 1/2 years. Unlike your typical Hollywood prison film there are no attempts to keep track of time or even to escape, the main focus for Keenan (perfectly played by longtime character actor Ian Hart) is to stay physically and mentally alive while facing first solitary confinement and then shared captivity with a Brit, no less. Although the mismatched 'odd couple' might seem humorous at first, they soon learn to co-exist with each other and their captors in their own individual ways. Keenan is a natural rebel and tries a number of techniques to get information about the outside world, from hunger strikes to refusing to shave or wear 'prisoner clothes'. This attitude puts him at odds with some of the sadistic tendencies of his captors who routinely order the men to perform inane tasks or suffer beatings for no reason. If anyone ever has any question as to why a nation should use any means necessary to free political hostages, this film is it. A taut drama that will enhance your appreciation of the courage any survivor of captivity must demonstrate. I should also note that well-known British actor Linus Roache ("Hart's War") is equally excellent in portraying the easy-going journalist 'John McCarthy' (who was released a year after Keenan in real life).