Contact (6 Jan. 1985)

Drama about a platoon of British paratroopers on patrol in Northern Ireland

Director:

Alan Clarke

Writer:

A.F.N. Clarke

Stars:

Sean Chapman, Steve Sweeney, Gary Hailes

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Sean Chapman	...	Platoon Commander
Steve Sweeney	...	Smith
Gary Hailes	...	Jones
Graham Fletcher-Cook	...	Rankin
John Blundell	...	Corporal
Ozzie Stevens	...	Lance Corporal
Jem Ahmet
Jason Conliffe
Steve Fletcher	...	Dawes
Chris Lee
James V. Mathews
Dennis Savage
Sam Smart

Storyline

Drama about a platoon of British paratroopers on patrol in Northern Ireland

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 January 1985 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Tense Drama

CONTACT is a drama set around a platoon of British soldiers from the Parachute regiment patrolling the bandit country of the rural border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. There`s hardly any dialogue and absolutely no plot as we see a squad of soldiers getting on with a dangerous and thankless task . Director Alan Clarke has rightfully resisted making any political comment with CONTACT and gives the programme a docudrama feel with shaky camera work and jump edits which works totally in its favour . Witness the scene near the end where the platoon commander investigates an abandoned car , you`ll be able to hear your own heart pumping with anxiety.

My one problem with CONTACT is that the patrol sees maybe a bit too much action with terrorists . You could serve several tours of Northern Ireland without coming into contact ( Hence the title of the drama ) with the enemy while here the patrol comes into contact with terrorists several times , but I guess soldiers yomping around Irish fields with no incidents wouldn`t have made much of a dramatic impact