Staged in the early 80s, the Unionists wanted to keep Ireland and Britain connected, versus the Nationalists / IRA wanted to form a republic (Republic of Ireland). The British put captured IRA in cruel conditions, spurring protests within the prison.
The movie's power comes from the character development, writing and - most of all - the humanization of both the IRA prisoners and the guards. While the movie deals with some very extreme behavior, the spaces in between are what make it. The guards are not just storm troopers, the prisons aren't just rebels, they are both shown to be emotional, individual and complex. Most operate in a gray area, which propels the film and introduces the larger messages of the movie.
Declining mental health of both prisoners and guards is also thematic, showing depression, anxiety, and personality disorders causing a downward spiral for both sides. Despite such violence, the the situation increasingly feels out of grasp of both the guards and rebels. There are some great dialogues, the cinematography is wide and mildly edited, allowing the atmosphere to be taken it.
Warning: It's heavy and graphic. Visually there is gore, but not overdone. Instead, the warning is this movie approaches the darkness of Requiem for a Dream or Enter the Void.
