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Five Minutes of Heaven (2009)

R  89 min  -  Crime | Drama | Thriller   -  27 February 2009 (Ireland)
6.7
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Ratings: 6.7/10 from 6,147 users   Metascore: 62/100 
Reviews: 37 user | 80 critic | 15 from Metacritic.com

The story of former UVF member Alistair Little. Twenty-five years after Little killed Joe Griffen's brother, the media arrange an auspicious meeting between the two.

Director:

Oliver Hirschbiegel

Writer:

Guy Hibbert (screenplay)

Stars:

Liam Neeson, James Nesbitt and Anamaria Marinca
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Five Minutes of Heaven -- Lurgan Northern Ireland, 1975. A low level civil war has been underway, with the IRA targeting British loyalists and the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force exacting revenge on Catholics they claim are militant republicans. Alistair Little, 16 is the leader of a UVF cell, eager to be blooded. He and his gang are given the go ahead to kill a young Catholic man, James Griffin, as a reprisal and a warning to others. When the hit is carried out, Joe Griffin - the 11-year old little brother of the target - watches in horror his brother is shot in the head. Thirty years later Joe Griffin and Alistair are to meet, on camera, with a view to reconciliation. Alistair has served his sentence, and Peace may been agreed in N. Ireland, but unbeknownst to the production team, Joe Griffin, is not coming on the program for a handshake but to stick a knife in his brother's killer - live on air. Five Minutes of Heaven -- Clip: The man I've become Five Minutes of Heaven -- The story of former UVF member Alistair Little. Twenty-five years after Little killed Joe Griffen's brother, the media arrange an auspicious meeting between the two.
See all 8 »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mark Ryder Mark Ryder ...
Young Alistair (as Mark Davison)
Diarmuid Noyes Diarmuid Noyes ...
Andy
Niamh Cusack Niamh Cusack ...
Alistair's Mum
Mathew McElhinney Mathew McElhinney ...
Stuart
Conor MacNeill Conor MacNeill ...
Dave
Paul Garrett Paul Garrett ...
Alistair's Dad
Kevin O'Neill Kevin O'Neill ...
Young Joe
Gerard Jordan Gerard Jordan ...
Jim
Paula McFetridge Paula McFetridge ...
Joe's Mum
Gerry Doherty Gerry Doherty ...
Joe's Dad
Luke O'Reilly Luke O'Reilly ...
Brother Dan
Luke McEvoy Luke McEvoy ...
Brother John
Aiobheann Biddle Aiobheann Biddle ...
Sister #1
Ruth Matthewson Ruth Matthewson ...
Sister #2
Carol Moore Carol Moore ...
Susan
Full cast and crew »
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Storyline

In February, 1975, in Northern Ireland, seventeen year-old UVF member Alistair Little kills the catholic Jimmy Griffin in his house in Lurgan in front of his younger brother Joe Griffin. Alistair is arrested and imprisoned for twelve years while Joe is blamed by his mother for not saving his brother. Thirty-three years later, a TV promotes the meeting of Alistair and Joe in a house in River Finn, expecting the truth and the reconciliation of the murderer and the victim who actually seeks five minutes of heaven. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Ireland | Northern Ireland | Mother Son Relationship | Murder | Shot Through A Window  | See more »

Taglines:

To face the future, they must face the past.

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some violence See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Australia] | Official site [Ireland] | Add/edit official sites  »

Country:

UK | Ireland

Language:

English

Release Date:

(Ireland) See more »

Also Known As:

Cinco minutos de gloria See more »

Filming Locations:

Ballybeen, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK See more »

Box Office

Gross:

$13,217 (USA) (30 August 2009)
See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Big Fish Films, Element Pictures, Ruby Films See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Goofs

Continuity: The car which takes Griffin to the shooting location changes color from black to silver and back. You can see this when they stop on the highway,and Griffin gets back in the car and closes the door the side of the car is silver. Also, the mirror of the car is silver when it should be black. See more »

Quotes

Alistair Little: For me to talk about the man I have become, you need to know about the man I was. I was fourteen when I joined the tartan gangs and I was fifteen when I joined the UVF. At that time, don't forget, there were riots on the streets every week; petrol bombs everyday...
See more »

Connections

Features Thunderpants (2002) See more »

Soundtracks

"A Glass of Champagne"
Written by Georg Kajanus
Performed by Sailor
Courtesy of Sony BMG Records
Under license by Sashay Music & Warner Chappell Music Publishing See more »