One of the best films I saw at this year’s Berlin Film Festival was ’71, which is the feature directorial debut of Yann Demange (whose credits include some high-profile and acclaimed British television series like Top Boy, Criminal Justice, Secret Diary of a Call Girl).  The film is set in Belfast in 1971 and it’s about a young British soldier (Jack O’Connell) that’s accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot.  Trapped behind enemy lines, he’s unable to tell friend from foe, and we follow as he tries to find his way home, while the locals battle for supremacy.  One of the reasons the film is so powerful is that it doesn’t portray any character or side in absolutes.  Each person we meet along the way has depth, and Demange doesn’t pull any punches when depicting the violence of the times.

With '71 doesn't yet have a release date in America, the film opens in the U.K. on October 10th and the first trailer has landed online.  What's great about the '71 trailer is that it sells you on the story and action without ruining any of the twists and turns.  Hit the jump to check it out.

For more on '71 you can read my Berlin interview with Jack O'Connell here.  He talks about how he got involved in the project, how the film isn’t just an action thriller, what he knew about the conflict prior to filming, the strong visuals of the film, how he got into acting, Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken, and a lot more.