Fifty Dead Men Walking is a 2008 crime thriller film written and directed by Kari Skogland. It is a loose adaptation of Martin McGartland's 1997 autobiography of the same name. It premiered in September 2008, and stars Jim Sturgess as Martin McGartland, an informant within the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), and Ben Kingsley as Fergus, his British handler.
The film is set from 1987 until 1991, the time in which McGartland acted as an undercover informant within the IRA during The Troubles. In 1991 his cover was blown and he was kidnapped by the IRA, although he later escaped and went into hiding.
At the time of the release of the film McGartland was still in hiding. The film takes its name from McGartland's claim within his book to have saved the lives of fifty people during his time as an informant.
Martin McGartland (Jim Sturgess) is a 22-year-old street hustler from Northern Ireland, living in the 1980s. The Irish Republican Army wants to recruit him, but he is reluctant because of what he sees as their cruel justice. Because of his connection to the community the British police want him to infiltrate and spy on the IRA. Marty agrees because of the car and money he gets from the police, and because he dislikes the IRA. The IRA accepts him in the "official" position of volunteer, in which he is informed about various planned attacks; thus he can tell such info to his police contact, to prevent these attacks. Thus he builds up a new sense of self esteem, but he cannot tell his family and friends about his activities. Even his new girlfriend Lara (Nathalie Press) only notices that he seems to do some work for the IRA, which worries her.
All along the British accept the risk that the IRA discovers that Marty works for them. They do not plan to rescue him in that case. So it happens. The IRA capture and torture Marty, but he manages to escape. His handler Fergus is now his only ally; he finds him and helps him hide. Fergus can arrange that Marty starts living with Lara and their child in Scotland, but Marty realises that she would never be able to feel safe even there, so he goes on the run to Canada alone, leaving his family to live a safer life without him. As shown at the start of the film, he is shot there by the IRA.
Cast
Fifty Dead Men Walking
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