The Mark of Cain (2007)

Director:

Marc Munden

Writer:

Tony Marchant (writer)

Release Date:

19 October 2007 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Uses detailed research and explosive new testimonies by soldiers who have served in Iraq to tell an emotional fictional story of two young men very much out of their depth.

Plot Keywords:

Gang Violence | Iraq | Feces | Cover Up | Military

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Gerard Kearns	...	Mark 'Treacle' Tate
Matthew McNulty	...	Shane Gulliver
Leo Gregory	...	Lance Corporal Quealey
Shaun Dooley	...	Corporal Gant
Shaun Dingwall	...	Major Godber
Naomi Bentley	...	Shelley
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Angell	...	Defence Barrister
Roger Barclay	...	Adjutant
Michael Byrne	...	Lieut General Strathairn
Fiona Carnegie	...	Barmaid
Ralph Casson	...	President of the Court
Matt Chapman	...	RMP Officer
Ruth Chapman	...	Girl in Club
Jo Cowen	...	Journalist
Brendan Coyle	...	Davey Gulliver
Heather Craney	...	Brenda Tate
Houda Echouafni	...	Abdullah's wife
Matthew Gravelle	...	Chaplain
Edmund Herd	...	Judge Advocate
Ali Khalil	...	Sayid Ahmed
Kevin Knapman	...	Pvt Soldier 1
Dhaffer L'Abidine	...	Abdullah Omar
Khalid Laith	...	Army Translator
Nabil Massad	...	Village Elder
Simon Naylor	...	Pvt Soldier 2
Mikey North	...	Ginger recruit
Badia Obaid	...	Sayid's Mum
Martin Oldfield	...	Prosecution Counsel
Alistair Petrie	...	Major Rod Gilchrist
Ian Ralph	...	Pub Customer
Andrew Readman	...	Military Doctor
Barry Sloane	...	TA Pvt Glynn
Paul Stocker	...	Guard Soldier
Olivia Thompson	...	Nell Tate
Pip Torrens	...	Colonel Hampton

Runtime:

87 min | Netherlands:90 min (International Film Festival Rotterdam)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Australia:MA (2007)

Filming Locations:

Bolton School, Bolton, Lancashire, England, UK

Company:

Red Production Company

Almost good

Although Mark of Cain isn't a bad movie, and most of the acting is in fact pretty good, it seems to be lacking a clear purpose. For a movie that aims to make a political statement, it seems to pull its punches at the most crucial moments. As a movie that wants to tell a story about a modern war, although realistic and often gritty, it is not nearly as powerful as Platoon or as intricate as Jarhead. In fact, the power of the story seems to peter out after the first two-thirds of the movie. For example, the technique of starting with a crucial scene, and then flashing back to this scene as the story unfolds, becomes less powerful. Eventually, the viewer pretty well knows what to expect. Watch Mark of Cain, expect some poignant scenes, but don't expect any new insights in that fiasco known as Iraq and don't expect to see war's truly horrific face.