Netflix’s The Siege of Jadotville brings a forgotten true story of wartime courage to the screen
A small group of Irish UN peacekeepers found themselves surrounded by a vastly larger force during the Congo Crisis in 1961. Their story became one of the lesser-known episodes of Irish military history, and years later it was brought to Netflix in The Siege of Jadotville.
Released in 2016, Richie Smyth’s war drama follows the Irish Army soldiers commanded by Pat Quinlan as they defend their position against thousands of opposing troops. Based on Declan Power’s non-fiction book The Siege at Jadotville: The Irish Army’s Forgotten Battle, the film focuses on an episode that remained relatively obscure for decades.
The film has continued to attract viewers who say they were unaware of the real events before watching it. Recent audience reviews on Rotten Tomatoes include descriptions of the story as an overlooked piece of military history, with some viewers praising the performances, battlefield sequences and focus on the soldiers’ determination.
The real events behind The Siege of Jadotville
The story is set against the Congo Crisis, a period of political upheaval and violence that followed the country’s independence from Belgium.
The film begins with the execution of Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba and the escalating conflict that followed. Irish troops were deployed as part of the United Nations peacekeeping operation, eventually becoming caught up in the fighting at Jadotville in September 1961.
At the centre of the story is Commander Pat Quinlan, portrayed by Jamie Dornan. Netflix describes the film as the true story of a 150-member Irish UN battalion that came under attack from approximately 3,000 Congolese troops, with French and Belgian mercenaries among the forces involved.
The siege placed the Irish soldiers in an extraordinarily difficult position. Cut off and heavily outnumbered, they had to rely on preparation, discipline and their limited resources to defend themselves.
The story is particularly notable because the men involved did not initially receive the recognition that later came to be associated with their actions.
Jamie Dornan leads the cast
Jamie Dornan takes the central role of Pat Quinlan, the Irish officer responsible for the UN contingent.
Dornan has spoken about the importance of telling the story and highlighting the experiences of the veterans. He said the men involved had not received the recognition they deserved and welcomed the opportunity to bring their efforts to a wider audience.
The cast also includes Emmanuelle Seigner as Madame LaFontagne, Jason O’Mara as Jack Prendergast, Mikael Persbrandt as Dag Hammarskjöld and Mark Strong as Conor Cruise O’Brien.
Netflix lists Guillaume Canet, Michael McElhatton, Danny Sapani, Sam Keeley and Ronan Raftery among the other members of the cast.
The actors underwent military training
Director Richie Smyth wanted the combat scenes to feel convincing, so the actors underwent military training in South Africa before filming.
Rather than simply asking the cast to imitate soldiers on camera, Smyth put them through a training camp designed to give them an understanding of military discipline and the physical demands of the roles. Reports about the production note that the cast spent weeks training at a South African boot camp.
That preparation was intended to give the actors a more authentic sense of how the soldiers would move and operate together.
The approach has been praised by viewers who found the film’s combat sequences convincing while also appreciating that the story remains focused on the men and the situation they faced.
Audiences praise its realistic approach
Audience reactions have been varied, but a number of viewers have singled out the film’s depiction of the battle and its focus on an unfamiliar historical episode.
One Rotten Tomatoes reviewer described it as an amazing true story about real-life heroes and called the film a must-see. Another said they had no previous knowledge of the story and viewed the film as a long-overdue account of what happened to the Irish soldiers.
Other viewers have praised the movie for avoiding some of the more sentimental conventions associated with war films. The battle sequences, in particular, have been highlighted for their intensity and realism.
The critical response has been more mixed. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists the film at 64% from 11 critic reviews and 75% from more than 1,000 audience ratings. Critics have praised aspects of the production while some have questioned the film’s treatment of events outside the battlefield.
Three IFTA awards
The film also received recognition at the 2017 Irish Film & Television Awards.
The Siege of Jadotville won three awards, including Best Director for Richie Smyth, Best Supporting Actor for Jason O’Mara and Best Visual Effects.
Jamie Dornan was also nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role, while the film received nominations in categories including Best Film, Best Script and Best Sound.
The awards added to the film’s recognition in Ireland and helped draw further attention to the historical episode on which it was based.
A forgotten chapter of Irish military history
Part of the film’s appeal comes from the fact that audiences can discover the story alongside the characters.
The soldiers at Jadotville faced overwhelming opposition, yet the story does not depend solely on spectacle. At its centre is the question of how a small UN unit responds when its position becomes increasingly difficult to defend.
That combination of real events, military action and a relatively unfamiliar chapter of history has made The Siege of Jadotville particularly appealing to viewers looking for a war film based on events that they may never have encountered before.
The movie is based on Declan Power’s book and was produced as an Irish and South African co-production. It was directed by Richie Smyth and written by Kevin Brodbin.
Netflix currently lists The Siege of Jadotville as a 2016 drama based on real life, starring Jamie Dornan, Guillaume Canet and Emmanuelle Seigner.
Watch the official trailer
The official Netflix trailer describes the film as the true story of the 1961 siege and introduces Jamie Dornan as Commander Patrick Quinlan.