The story takes place in the 1970s, during the Northern Irish Republican Army's revolt against British rule. At the time the Northern IRA was fighting in Ireland and bombing in the UK. In the context of this fierce political struggle, the fate of the little people has become more humble and insignificant, unable to control their own destiny, but just drifting with the tide.
The protagonist of the story is Gary, a punk who likes to steal and do nothing every day. Threatened and tortured by police eager for quick success, Gary confessed that he was responsible for a bombing with heavy casualties, resulting in a 30-year prison sentence, including his aunt's family and several friends. His father was also wrongfully imprisoned to save him.
The film is fast paced and contains a lot of scenes and small details. There are chaotic scenes of the confrontation between the Irish Republican Army and the British government army, the dilapidated and dirty hippie houses in London, the cruel and inhumane prisons, the absurd and irrational courts... However, there is a main thread that has been interspersed closely. In these scenes, that is fatherly love.
For a son who is so useless and troublesome everywhere, whether he is in a chaotic and dangerous confrontation zone, in an inhuman and bullied prison, or in a despised and unfairly treated court, the father is always there for the son. Beside, encourage, tolerate, accompany, until the last moment of life. No matter what my son did wrong, how serious the mistake, always trust him and love him.
In the end Gary was vindicated and acquitted, as if he himself had finally grown up. A person who is not given up and is always surrounded by love, no matter what trough in life he falls, he will stand up again.
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