Revolting

Guns at Batasi (1964)

Based on a the novel “The Siege of Battersea” this adaptation stars Richard Attenborough and features a young Mia Farrow in one of her first screen roles. An uptight, by the book Regimental Sergeant Major is faced with a potential civil war in a former British colony.

The major issue of post war British history is the end of the Empire and the growing pains of that faced many nations after decolonisation and this film deals with some of those themes. As purely advisers in a now independent country when there is a coup it puts the British characters in a tough position and the film explores how they react depending on their prejudices. Negotiating the subject matter is no mean feat but the film manages to do so without moralising and giving a balanced show of differing points of view. It does have to be said that Attenborough gives a really great performance in a role that could have gone way over the top and ruined the film.

4/5 a good look at some difficult issues.