The Journey (2016)

During the 2006 Northern Ireland peace talks, Sinn Fein leader Martin McGuiness and Democratic Party leader Ian Paisley are forced to travel by car together.

Director:

Nick Hamm

Writer:

Colin Bateman (screenplay by)

Stars:

Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, John Hurt

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Timothy Spall	...	Ian Paisley
Colm Meaney	...	Martin McGuinness
Freddie Highmore	...	Jack the Driver
John Hurt	...	Harry Patterson
Catherine McCormack	...	Kate Elgar
Toby Stephens	...	Tony Blair
Barry Ward	...	Ian Paisley, Jr.
Ian Beattie	...	Gerry Adams
Ian McElhinney	...	Rory O'Suaird
Mark Lambert	...	Bertie Ahern
Daniel Portman	...	Frank
Lucy Cray-Miller	...	Reporter (as Lucy Cray Miller)
Lorna Quinn	...	Reporter
Richard Doubleday	...	Reporter
Patrick Joseph Byrnes	...	Reporter

Storyline

In 2006, Northern Ireland's bloody Troubles had dragged on for decades. Now with the growing threat of a new generation inspired by the 9/11 attacks to escalate the conflict to new levels of destruction, both the Catholic Republican and the Protestant Unionist sides are finally persuaded to seriously explore a peace agreement at UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's urging. Unfortunately, the principle negotiators, firebrand Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein politician Martin McGuinness, are decades-long implacable enemies. However with talks about to start, Paisley has his wedding anniversary that he is determined to attend at home, and McGuinness decides he must accompany his enemy to prevent him from being persuaded to abandon this chance for peace. With the Prime Minister and his MI-5 staff nervously watching from secret cameras, the two foes undertake a journey together in which they bridge the seemingly unbridgeable and change the course of history.

---

Plot Keywords:

sinn fein | northern ireland | peace talks | politician | year 2006 | 

---

Taglines:

Life made them enemies. Politics made them adversaries. One journey made them friends.

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements including violent images and language

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 June 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Viagem

Filming Locations:

Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Greenroom Entertainment, Tempo Productions Limited

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The driver in the car asks Martin McGuinness if he's seen him on television. That is an in-joke about Colm Meaney, who had a long-running role, as Miles O'Brien on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993).

---

Goofs

In the church scene, in a wood block there is an empty Smirnoff vodka bottle for which there is no reference in the dialogue. Why did the Director leave it, so obvious in the middle of the scene?

---

Quotes

Ian Paisley: [Introducing McGuinness to their driver] And this is Martin McGuinness, former chief of staff of the Irish Republican Army.
Martin McGuinness: Allegedly.

---

Crazy Credits

During the end credits for the main cast photographs of the real Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness at various official occasions are shown.

---

Connections

References The Exorcist (1973)

---

Soundtracks

Are You Getting Through
Written by Glen Hansard
Published by WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)
Performed by Glen Hansard, Joseph Doyle, Graham Hopkins, Ruth O'Mahony Brady, Michael Buckley, Ronan Dooney, Una O'Kane, Paule Hughes, Katie O'Conner, David, Odlum
Recorded fby David Odlum at Westland Studios, Dublin and Black Box Studio, France
Produced by David Odlum
Appears Courtesy of Anti Records

User Reviews

Well acted drama

I'm surprised this movie didn't do better in theatres.

The movie revolves around a fictional retelling of the Northern Ireland peace treaty. It tells the tale of the real life leaders Martin McGuiness and Ian Paisley finding some common ground after years of hatred. The movie doesn't choose sides in the conflict but presents puts the war in perspective: honoring the memory of your ancestors by continuing the conflict or giving your descendants hope by finding peace.

This is an excellent portrayal of two men who must look past themselves and their prejudices to build a peaceful future.