The Siege of Jadotville

About The Siege of Jadotville

Explore:

• About
• Making / Production
• Actors
• Trivia / Interesting Facts
• Awards
• Quotes
• Music
• Soundtrack

About

The Siege of Jadotville is a 2016 action and adventure film directed by Richie Smyth. The movie is based on the true story of the 1961 Siege of Jadotville, in which a small Irish UN battalion of 150 men valiantly held their ground against an army of 3,000 Congolese troops and French and Belgian mercenaries.

The film follows the exploits of Commandant Pat Quinlan and his men as they find themselves outnumbered and outgunned in the midst of a political conflict in the Congo. Despite facing overwhelming odds, the Irish soldiers demonstrate courage, resilience, and determination as they fight for survival.

Making / Production

The movie was produced by Parallel Films and was released exclusively on Netflix. The filming took place primarily in South Africa, where the producers recreated the rugged terrain of the Congo. The production team worked meticulously to recreate the historical setting, ensuring authenticity in the costumes, weaponry, and overall visuals of the film.

Actors

• Jamie Dornan as Commandant Pat Quinlan - Dornan portrayed the role of the courageous and resourceful commanding officer of the Irish battalion.
• Mark Strong as Conor Cruise O'Brien - Strong played the Irish politician and diplomat who served as the UN representative in the Congo during the siege.
• Jason O'Mara as Captain Mike Hoare - O'Mara portrayed the controversial Irish mercenary who led the enemy forces against the Irish battalion.
• Guillaume Canet as Rene Faulques - Canet played the French mercenary who supported the Congolese troops in the conflict.
• Michael McElhatton as A Company Sergeant - McElhatton portrayed one of the senior non-commissioned officers in the Irish battalion.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The Siege of Jadotville is based on a book of the same name by Irish author Declan Power, who was once a soldier in the Irish Army.
• The film received critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal of the events and the bravery of the Irish soldiers.
• The Siege of Jadotville highlighted the political complexities and the role of multinational corporations in the conflict.
• Many of the surviving veterans of the siege provided input and support during the making of the film to ensure its accuracy.

Awards

The Siege of Jadotville received several nominations for awards, including the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards for Best Film and Best Actor (Jamie Dornan).

Quotes

• "We're not peacekeepers anymore. We're soldiers in a foreign country."
• "Don't you know we're supposed to be neutral?"
• "They think we're cowards, but we'll show them what Irish soldiers can do."

Music

The musical score for The Siege of Jadotville was composed by Joseph Trapanese. The score captures the tension and intensity of the battle scenes while also evoking the resilience and determination of the Irish soldiers.

Soundtrack

• "The Siege of Jadotville" - Performed by Joseph Trapanese
• "March to Jadotville" - Performed by Joseph Trapanese
• "Battle of Broken Hill" - Performed by Joseph Trapanese
• "Last Stand" - Performed by Joseph Trapanese