Few among us would dispute that violence as a way of life is cyclical; it is something that is learned and perpetuated. And while it is easy to fall into violence, forgiveness is much more difficult. Set in Belfast in the mid ’70s, Ulster loyalist Alistair commits a hideous murder as a way to prove his worth. Left in the wake of the crime is the victim’s young brother, a witness to the crime and it’s second, silent victim. Thirty years later a television program wants to bring Alistair and Joe together. It is here that [Five Minutes of Heaven] really begins. Joe’s anger at Alistair stems partly from the incredible reach of the murder’s impact; it destroyed his family and has hung like a dark cloud over his entire life. The emotional impact of violence is the real story, as is the swarm of conflicting emotions that result from the men’s meeting. The powerfully restrained film transcends revenge drama and soars based on its sensitivity and insight on a difficult aspect of our humanity.