Five Minutes of Heaven (2009)

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:

Mark Ryder, James Nesbitt, Liam Neeson

8 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mark Ryder	...	Young Alistair: 1975 (as Mark Davison)
Diarmuid Noyes	...	Andy: 1975
Niamh Cusack	...	Alistair's Mum: 1975
Mathew McElhinney	...	Stuart: 1975
Conor MacNeill	...	Dave: 1975
Paul Garrett	...	Alistair's Dad: 1975
Kevin O'Neill	...	Young Joe: 1975
Gerard Jordan	...	Jim: 1975
Paula McFetridge	...	Joe's Mum: 1975
Gerry Doherty	...	Joe's Dad: 1975
Luke O'Reilly	...	Brother Dan: 1975
Luke McEvoy	...	Brother John: 1975
Aoibheann Biddle	...	Sister #1: 1975
Ruth Matthewson	...	Sister #2: 1975
Carol Moore	...	Susan: 1975

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.

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Plot Keywords:

northern ireland | ireland | reconciliation | chauffeur | time in title | 

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Taglines:

To face the future, they must face the past.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [au] Official site [ie]

Country:

UK Ireland

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 February 2009 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Cinco minutos de gloria

Filming Locations:

Ballybeen, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$5,364 (USA) (21 August 2009)

Gross:

$13,217 (USA) (28 August 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, Big Fish Films, Bórd Scannán na hÉireann

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The little boy he delivers the note from Liam Neeson's character was named "Liam."

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

Alistair Little: Time will heal they say... what everybody says about everything. The years just get heavier. Why don't they tell you that? Nobody tells you that!

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Connections

References The Way of the Dragon (1972)

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Soundtracks

"Birth"
Written and performed by David Holmes
Courtesy of Mercury Records Limited
Under license from Universal Music Operations
Published by Universal/Island Music LImited

User Reviews

A very good film, I enjoyed it and it tells a story that needs to be told

Its probably pertinent I mention that I'd watch Liam Neeson reading the phone book - and walk away content. Having said that this is a story that needs to be told. People delude themselves if they think the formal end of a conflict ends the collateral damage thats a product of conflict.

The two primary characters are very engaging; The emotion expressed and the reasons for it are carefully and sympathetically explained. There is a gentleness to the story amid the unforgiving violence. In no other historical or fictional portrayal have I heard so simply but properly explained why people got involved in violence in the six counties of Ireland.

I found it "cute" to hear Neeson speaking in his own accent for once.