Just watched this film and I feel it is a much better film than it's rating suggests. Desperate story of one mans desperate attempt to reach the UK at any cost and of a hard - keeping to the rule book immigration officer. Great performances by all starring. I give it 8/10. Watch it it's a good film

A somewhat intriguing look at immigration and the border officials who handle it. The story works quite well with its limited use of location, with much of the narrative shifting between the interview between Wendy and Haile, and Haile's journey to get to the UK. It does a decent job of showing both the perspectives of border officials and refugees.

Lena Headey's acting is fine, but Ivanno Jeremiah is fantastic, having to showcase a lot of emotion, and dig deep within his character's psyche. Through his journey from Eritrea to the UK you can understand the tough choices he has to make, such as when he attacks a police officer to allow others to escape. The film doesn't justify his actions, making him a more interesting character by not taking the moral option at every turn.

For negatives, there is a lack of narrative momentum during the second act, and some emotional beats for Haile feel a bit over-cooked. Wendy's sub-plot involving her divorce could have tied back to the overall story a little more as well.

However, this is far from the propaganda piece a lot of reviewers have claimed this film to be. Showcasing something you disagree with doesn't equal propaganda. Most people seem to be dismissing this for political reasons alone rather than the actual qualities that make up a film. Characters from both sides have actual nuance, as demonstrated through the immigrants in 'The Jungle' looking to exploit others for their own gain, whilst some border officials are merely looking to fast-track immigrants to meet quotas. There are morally questionable people on both sides, but there are good people there trying to make the system work.

Actually look at the film as a whole, rather than just use politics to justify giving it a 1/10. I'm not left-wing and I was able to judge the film without the lens of politics interfering.

Wendy (Lena Headey) is a UK bureaucrat who interviews people for asylum hearings, sorting out legitimate refugees from folks who just want out of their country. She is put in charge of the high profile case of Halie (Ivanno Jeremiah) fleeing Eritrea. He pulled a knife on a cop. Her job is to give him hope and refuse him. Halie tells her a story that would qualify him for sainthood, but is it true and does it matter?

It is a drama you may or may not like depending on the level of your xenophobia. Guide: No swearing, sex, or nudity.