Neil Jordan’s landmark film remains one of the key Irish films of the last 20 years. A skillfully written examination of race, gender and national politics that questions the audience’s assumptions and behaviours just as it does those of the characters. When an IRA unit including foot soldier Fergus (Stephen Rea) captures a British soldier (Forest Whitaker), a bond forms between the two men. Following the soldier’s death, Fergus travels to London to fulfil his promise to look after the man’s lover. The film contains one of the most notorious twists of recent years, and won Jordan an Oscar for his screenplay. (Grainne HUMPHREYS)