History enthusiasts looking for a gripping film based on real events may want to revisit The Siege of Jadotville, the acclaimed 2016 war drama that brings a largely overlooked chapter of the Congo Crisis to the screen.

Inspired by Declan Power’s book of the same name, the film recounts the experiences of an Irish Army unit serving with the United Nations during a period of political upheaval and violence in Congo.

The forgotten battle behind the film

Between 1960 and 1965, Congo was engulfed by instability and conflict. Against fears that the Katanga crisis could escalate into a much wider confrontation, Irish troops serving under the United Nations Operation became caught up in what would become known as the Siege of Jadotville.

The battle lasted five days. Eventually, the Irish soldiers were forced to surrender, and a number of them subsequently spent a month as prisoners of war.

Released in 2016, The Siege of Jadotville was directed by Richie Smyth and written by Kevin Brodbin as an Irish-South African co-production. The film sought to bring renewed attention to the soldiers and events that had received relatively little recognition for decades.

Jamie Dornan leads the cast as the Irish Army officer commanding the UN contingent. Dornan spoke passionately about the real soldiers behind the story, saying the veterans “didn’t get the recognition they deserved” and expressing his satisfaction that the film could finally draw attention to their “heroic” actions.

The film went on to win three Irish Film & Television Awards.

Viewers praise its gripping battle sequences

The movie has also earned enthusiastic reactions from audiences, particularly for its action and storytelling.

One IMDb reviewer, describing themselves as a war-film enthusiast, said the movie had them “hooked from the first five minutes,” praising its dialogue, narration and pacing while saying they developed a strong connection with the soldiers portrayed on screen.

Another viewer highlighted the intensity of the action sequences and the extraordinary performance of the Irish troops during the siege. Despite not normally being a major fan of war films, the reviewer awarded the movie a 10 out of 10.

Alongside Dornan, the cast 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.

Cast underwent military preparation

To make the soldiers’ performances as convincing as possible, director Richie Smyth put the cast through a training camp in South Africa before filming began. His approach was straightforward: if the actors were going to portray soldiers authentically, he wanted them to experience military-style preparation before stepping in front of the cameras.

That commitment helped the production recreate the events of 1961 while bringing greater attention to the real people who endured the siege.

For viewers interested in military history, true stories and intense battlefield dramas, the award-winning The Siege of Jadotville is available to stream on Netflix.