Fifty Dead Men Walking 2009

In a gritty depiction of 1980s Northern Ireland, Martin McGartland (21) maneuvers through the perilous environment as a resourceful hustler, caught in a conflict between the Irish Republican Army’s (IRA) recruitment drives and the British police’s covert operations. Although initially hesitant about the IRA’s ruthless tactics, Martin is lured in by the allure of monetary rewards and a car offered by his police handlers, leading him to infiltrate the organization. Despite his disdain for the IRA’s ideology, he agrees to act as a double agent, relaying information to his handler Fergus while pretending to be a loyal Volunteer.

As Marty becomes more deeply integrated into the IRA’s inner workings, he develops a sense of self-worth that he had previously lacked, but it comes at a grave cost: he must keep his secret life hidden from his loved ones, including his girlfriend Lara, who starts to grow suspicious of his possible involvement with the IRA. Simultaneously, the British authorities take a significant risk by allowing Marty to stay within the IRA, knowing it might lead to his exposure and potential abandonment.

Tension mounts when Marty is captured and subjected to brutal torture by the IRA, which pushes him to make a desperate escape by leaping from a window. With Fergus as his only ally, he navigates the dangerous waters of evasion while trying to secure his family’s relocation to Scotland. Ultimately, Marty realizes that such a move would place Lara in jeopardy and makes the heart-wrenching decision to flee alone to Canada, leaving his loved ones behind. The film opens with a chilling flashback: now in hiding, Marty is unexpectedly ambushed by the IRA, yet miraculously survives the attack, setting the stage for a harrowing tale of survival and deception.