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Fifty Dead Men Walking Director: Kari Skogland Genre: Spy Drama Starring: Ben Kingsley, Jim Sturgess, Kevin Zegers, Nathalie Press, Rose McGowan. Screenplay: Kari Skogland, inspired by the novel by Martin McGartland and Nicholas Davies. By: Don Young It is expected that a film on Northern Ireland in the 1980’s will make a judgement of right and wrong, and promote that opinion. Kari Skogland has written and directed a film that shows the impasse between the British and the Irish Republic Army, in a way that takes no side, other than showing the injustice that suggests an unstated wish for more humanity. The movie begins with a scene of Martin McGartland (Jim Sturgess) somewhere in coastal Canada in 1999. He comes out of his shanty and looks under his car before getting in and starting it. As he clears the ice from the interior of the windshield, a bullet shatters the side window. An assassin moves in for a better shot and a fight ensues over the gun. Martin struggles to no avail, and six shots find their mark, leaving him covered in blood on the front seat of his car. The opening credits roll and it is clear this is not a movie intended for children, nor the faint of heart. The movie returns to a younger Martin, selling ladies garments from a suitcase in 1988 Belfast. He has no allegiance and little concern about the conflict between the local residents and the British occupation forces, until he tries to run from a British Army checkpoint. When he is arrested, British intelligence recognizes that he could provide information, although he refuses to say anything. The IRA appreciates that Martin is able to hold his silence. Both groups attempt to enlist him in their cause. Both decide to use him. Martin becomes a driver for the IRA and an informer for British Intelligence and his personal life becomes more complex with the pregnancy of his new girlfriend, Lara (Nathalie Press). The violence continues, but Martin’s information saves lives, at least 50 by the estimate of his handler, Fergus (Ben Kingsley). Martin swears in as a member and moves up in the IRA. He profits from the dual income until MI 5 decides to act on some of the intelligence, which makes it obvious that Martin is serving two masters. He is captured, beaten and tortured by the IRA, and barely escapes with his life, by jumping through an apartment window, several floors up. The British army won’t protect him and Fergus comes to his rescue. He is relocated, leaving his wife and children in Belfast. Eventually Martin is set up in Canada, compliments of the British government. This is a gritty tale of a sad time in Northern Ireland history. It is filmed using much natural lighting and often hand-held, with rapid camera movement. This results in a news documentary style, which suits the subject well. The movie will raise emotions, due to the violence, and the ruthlessness of both sides. It’s obvious that both combatants are using the average citizen who’s caught in the middle. Little mention is made of the Catholic – Protestant conflict. Perhaps it would detract from the concept of the British having no business being in Northern Ireland. While I enjoy this movie and appreciate how it was made, I’m left with the feeling that each person interprets this story in their own way. Martin McGartland has written a book based on facts, but warped by his own view of himself as a hero, able to survive multiple assassination attempts, and still on the run a decade later. He justifies leaving his wife and children in Belfast because he feels it is better for them to stay near their family. But, how safe are they living amongst the people that Martin betrayed? Will his children be considered as heroes in their schools? If Martin swore allegiance to the IRA, while he was feeding information to the British, how much integrity or credibility does he really have? Should we believe what he writes? When the movie was released at the film festivals, Martin raised issues that he felt were distorted in it. He filed a lawsuit to have distribution to theatres blocked. After an edit to a scene and a payment to Martin, he signed off, and went away, back into hiding. He didn’t seem to mind the exaggerated fall from the apartment in Belfast, nor the assassination attempt where he was not killed after six shots hit him at point blank range, even though it may have really happened in Scotland rather than in Canada. The title was inspired by Martin’s opinion of how many lives his information saved. There are no winners in this story, and often no hero to cheer for. It is a record of events inspired by Martin’s book, but not an accurate dramatization of fact. This movie should be appreciated for the truths it discloses and the energy of its presentation, while being tolerated for its over-dramatization. There is no happy ending, although Martin survives, somewhere. It’s a very good movie, but perhaps better considered as fiction. At least see it and form your own opinion. 
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