Cert TBA
87 mins
BBFC advice: TBA
Tony Blair and John Major would probably rank the success of the Northern Ireland peace process as the greatest achievement of their respective stints as Prime Minister.
But is the peace robust and what would have happened if there had been a South African-style truth commission?
These are the questions posed in Declan Recks' The Truth Commissioner which has only been shown at cinemas in Ireland but was also aired on the BBC.
The excellent Roger Allam plays the title role - a diplomat called Henry Stanfield - who upholds keen standards in his work but is found wanting away from it.
The latter, in the shape of his strained relationship with his daughter and illicit sexual shenanigans with a prostitute are both held against him as he delves into Northern Ireland's past.
Writer Eoin O'Callaghan's story concentrates on one of the many killings in the province during The Troubles.
The family of a murdered 15-year-old boy plead to know how he met his death and are desperate for the return of his body and closure.
Contemporary investigations had come up with nothing but it transpires that is because there are so many vested interests in keeping the truth quiet among politicians and the police.
The truth commissioner tries to keep his head above the double-dealing of the security forces on one side and the republicans on the other. It is a game of poker with grim consequences for the loser.
I don't have first-hand knowledge of Northern Ireland politics so I would not be confident enough to say whether this is a feasible scenario.
However, I suspect that fears over what a truth commission might unearth would be well-founded.
Recks' film gives a fair assessment of the pros and cons and is quality drama at the same time.
Reasons to watch: dramatic take on some real Northern Irish issues
Reasons to avoid: over-simplified the complexities
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 7.5/10
Star tweet
Brian Rowan The film has delivered an ugly truth, that what people are looking for is just not achievable.