The Gist
A British army patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan is deployed for a short mission into enemy territory – but a surprise attack from allied Special Forces sparks new Taliban danger leaving the unit injured, low on ammunition and under the command of a Captain who cannot control his men.
Review
The Patrol is a deceptively small budget, impressive debut from British writer-director Tom Petch. As you would expect from the set-up, the mission does not go according to plan. I mean, if you are going to call something Operation Icarus you really are asking for trouble. As insubordination, anger and resentment creep into the team Petch shows us just how fragile the chain of command can be when faced with maintaining authority under the most difficult of circumstances, the fine line between self-preservation and cowardice.
Petch himself is ex-army and is uniquely placed to ask the greater questions of the war in Afghanistan which has killed almost 500 British men and women since the start of the war. This is in face the first British film to deal with the war in Afghanistan.
The Verdict
Feature Film Winner at Raindance 2013 The Patrol is a solid debut that isn’t afraid to ask the difficult questions but the lack of budget leads to a severe lack of onscreen firepower and pyrotechnics for a war movie.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9xCRM9hLDk
Certificate: 15
Director: Tom Petch
Starring: Owain Arthur, Nicholas Beveney, Daniel Fraser, Alex McNally
Release Date: 21st April
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