I suspect this will be just another left-wing film that seeks to trash the British military and portray the British as being brutal thugs and Irish Catholics as hard done by and oppressed.
I'll be pleasantly surprised if my assessment is wrong, but I doubt it will be because British cinema is absolutely full of far-leftists who love running their own country down.
'balanced' isnt a term i do not find to be very useful, except in those rare cases in a conflict where the opposing forces are exquisitely in proportion, a fairly rare occurrence generally, and accounts of such cases highly suspect.
being objective, open to all facets of a complex situation, otoh, is the good stuff. especially when tempered with a sound cause of root causes, history, power relations, etc.
this film did propose a corruption at work on the part of the british paramilitary, and the faction arising between the old guard IRA (marxist/socialist) and the more activist & violent provos.
the over-arching theme was expounded by the fellow who considered the army 'posh *beep* having think *beep* kill poor *beep* and presented the provos as free-lance killers, with the backdrop of RUC cops kicking in people's doors and man-handling the populace.
how this all shakes out only the irish of a certain time & place can say.
not being a fan of bullies with guns, colonialist endeavors or their armies, or double-dealing undercover creeps, it struck me as having a good deal of truth about the men who thrive in strife, the forces behind them.
The OP got it pretty spot on. It is a subtle trashing of the British, and a glorification of the Irish who either innocent youngsters caught up in it, try and help him, or are just fighting for their cause. Even the loyalists are made to look FAR worse that the republicans.
The film looks good because the lead acting is excellent and the cinematography make it tense. But the story is absolute nonsense, full of implausible plot holes.
Happens all too often. I like the post by the fellow who mentions people leaving their third world countries for places like Britain, the United States, Germany (and such), and griping about their lot. If it is so bad, go back to your "hole" of a native land and fix it. IF they will let you.
My mother's family came from Mexico (true wetbacks, but the grandparents did get their papers, eventually), and through hard work and utilizing the system (not using it), have managed to scrabble a not-so-bad life. I live in the United States, and I know I have it made. Is there prejudice. Oh, absolutely, but this is still the best place to make a living.
As to the film, " '71 ", there are good guys and bad guys on all three sides (British Army, Catholic, Protestant). Good film.
- JKHolman