Set in Northern Ireland during the eighties, this film explores the emotional trauma of Cal, a taciturn and confused teenage Catholic involved with the IRA. During the murder of an RUC constable Cal hears the name hears the name Marcella cried out. He subsequently tracks down Marcella, the constable's widow and develops an infatuation for her. Cal is increasingly haunted by the death of her husband. In Cals' absence the family home is the subject of an arson attack and Cals' father goes to live with his uncle whereby he falls into a deep depression. Some while later when Christmas shopping Cal sees his old friend Crilly plant a bomb in a store, and Cal is forced to leave with Crilly. However while trying to avoid a checkpoint the car crashes and Cal manages to escape. He flees to Marcellas' house where he tells her the truth about her husbands death, but he is soon arrested. Helen Mirren won best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival.