Blind Flight 2003

Blind Flight tells the hellish true story of two prisoners – Brian Keenan, an Irish nationalist, and John McCarthy, a British journalist – who were kidnapped and held hostage by Arab militants in a series of prisons in Beirut in the late 80s. Keenan, a teacher who went to Beirut to escape the Troubles, and McCarthy, who was there looking for excitement and news stories, were to spend four and a half years together.

“Exceptional performances from Ian Hart and Linus Roache lend a compelling authority to the true story… Both actors get under the skin of two very different characters, capturing their individual personalities but also illuminating the common humanity that allowed them to endure their ordeal… Based largely on Keenan’s bestselling memoir, Blind Flight marks an impressive feature debut for writer-director John Furse. His spare, unsentimental account of the men’s captivity and friendship is tightly focused, well-balanced and always absorbing.” — Allan Hunter, Screendaily