I was greatly affected by this film, and though I do not know much about Ireland's history, I liked the way the story was told: by a small group of people mostly from the same village. We see the national events through a handful of characters, and the movie covers the Irish War of Independence, and the immediate Civil War after a treaty was signed with the British. Cillian Murphy is brilliant along with his co-stars, there is courage and stark vulnerability in each performance. The role of the English was definitely not a surprise, as throughout medieval and modern history they oppressed the Welsh, the Scots and the Irish brutally. I don't want to give away the plot, but I thought it was a masterpiece, dramatic, harrowing and very realistic. This is definitely a film that should not be missed.