Director: Brian
Kirk
Writer: David Haig
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe as Rudyard Kipling’s son Jack,
David Haig, Kim Cattrall and Carey Mulligan.
BAFTA award winning.
Plot:
The year is 1913. War with Germany is imminent. English
author Rudyard Kipling (David Haig), the British Empire's
greatest apologist, is at the peak of his literary fame.
This movie explores the nature of a man who loses his
balance when devotion to family and country clash. World War
I breaks out, and Kipling's son, Jack (Daniel Radcliffe), is
determined to fight, but the Army and the Navy both reject
him because of his extremely poor eyesight. Undaunted,
Kipling uses his influence to land Jack a commission in the
Irish Guards, sparking off a bitter family conflict. Jack
goes to war and is reported missing, believed wounded, in
his first action. The Kipling family live in vain hope for
two years, before finally learning of Jack's death. The
effect on Kipling is profound and irrevocable, as he
struggles to confront his appalling sense of guilt and loss.
Locations:
Clermont House and College in Rathnew, the boardroom was
used for the interiors of the main War Office Propaganda
room. Upstairs the boarding area of the school was used as
the Red Cross Hospital.
A private farm in Ashford was used to recreate the trenches
and battle scenes. Ardmore Studios in Bray and Cabinteely
House in South Dublin were also used.
