The Patrol **** (2013, Nav Sidhu, Ben Righton, Owain Arthur, Daniel Fraser, Alex McNally) – Movie Review

Tom Petch’s gripping and intelligent 2013 British war action drama film The Patrol is set in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2006, and looks at the Afghan conflict through the eyes of dazed and scared British soldiers.

This is the statement from writer-director Tom Petch: ‘In 2006 the UK Minster of Defence announced the deployment of British troops to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, saying: ‘We would be happy to leave Afghanistan without firing a single shot’.

Tom Petch’s 2013 British war action drama film The Patrol features a British Army Operational Mentor and Liaison Team supporting this NATO-led operation. As the scale of the Taliban insurgency dawns on the soldiers, problems with their operation cause the men to question their role in the war.

Well, basically, after a lot of bickering, one of the patrol gets shot – Taff (Owain Arthur) – and airlifted out. This prompts a crisis among the remaining men, who are now in fear of their lives, in a war that means nothing to them and in a place that means less. The men are just dazed and confused, as well as scared.

The officer in charge – Lieutenant Jonathan Bradshaw (Daniel Fraser) – is remote and aloof, not connecting with his men properly and seeming indecisive when he needs to act fast and be strong. His second in command – Captain William Richardson (Ben Righton) – is equally out of his depth. But, when a kind of mutiny occurs, he swings over to the men’s side, partly because he wants to get home alive and see his new baby.

With the help of excellent performances from a strong, well-picked cast, and a well-written dialogue-led and character-led script, Tom Petch makes a really good job of this war drama. The economic documentary-style filming pays off in terms of urgency and realism. This commendable movie is credible, intelligent and thought-provoking, as well as gripping too as an entertainment.

On a £1million budget, it lacks sweep and scale, but nevertheless it is top low-budget Brit film-making. And it looks right, with its Morocco locations. As Lieutenant Bradshaw would say: ‘Well done chaps. Good show!’

It won the jury prize for Film of the Festival – Feature at the Raindance Film Festival 2013.

The Patrol premiered at the Raindance Film Festival on 4 October 2013 and was released by Soda Pictures on 7 February 2014 in the UK and on 26 May 2014 by Epic Pictures in the US.

The cast are Owain Arthur as Taff, Nicholas Beveney as Sergeant ‘Sol’ Campbell, Daniel Fraser as Lieutenant Jonathan Bradshaw, Alex McNally as Ginge, Oliver Mott as Stab, Ben Righton as Captain William Richardson, Nav Sidhu as Smudge, Claire Morton as Medic, and Tom Petch as Judge Advocate.

The Patrol is directed by Tom Petch, runs 79 minutes, is released by Soda Pictures (UK) and Epic Pictures (US), is written by Tom Petch, is produced by Tom Petch, Tom Stuart and Karim Debbagh, is shot by Stu Bentley, and is scored by James McWilliam and Nick Crofts.

Tom Petch was born on 23 March 1966 in London.

Moroccan film producer Karim Debbagh was born on 25 January 1972 in Tangier.

© Derek Winnert 2014 derekwinnert.com Movie Review 

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Alex McNally plays Ginge.