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The Trench
- Debuted:
- 1999
- Directed by:
- William Boyd
- Written by:
- William Boyd
- Cillian plays:
- Rag Rookwood
- (a teenaged soldier in the British Army)
- The CillianSite Rating:
- 4.7
- Cillian's Performance:
- 6.3
- Fan Must-See Rating:
- 1.7
Synopsis:
This World War I drama focuses on a British Army unit called up for the Battle of the Somme, in which tens of thousands of British soldiers were lost in a single day. Set entirely in a system of trenches, the film shows these teenage troops waiting idly, playing cards, and swapping stories, while their more experienced Sergeant (Daniel Craig) attempts to instill discipline. Jokester Rag Rookwood (Cillian Murphy) joined up with his best buddy, while central character Billy MacFarlane (Paul Nicholls) signed up to serve beside his beloved older brother, Eddie (Tam Williams). Sporadic violence periodically disrupts the boredom as officers conceal the sacrificial slaughter to come.
Cast also includes Danny Dyer, James D'Arcy, and Adrian Lukis.
Of Note:
Cillian initially auditioned for director William Boyd and didn't get the part, but then Boyd wrote in a small role just for Cillian.
