A largely forgotten battle involving Irish soldiers during the Congo Crisis forms the basis of one of Netflix’s most acclaimed war dramas, with viewers praising The Siege of Jadotville for introducing them to a remarkable true story many admitted they had never heard before.
Released in 2016, the film stars Jamie Dornan as the officer commanding an Irish UN contingent caught up in the violence that engulfed Congo during the early 1960s. Rather than relying on exaggerated spectacle, the drama has earned praise for its intense battlefield sequences and its focus on soldiers whose actions, Dornan said, never received the recognition they deserved.
Directed by Richie Smyth and written by Kevin Brodbin, the Irish-South African production is adapted from Declan Power’s non-fiction book The Siege of Jadotville.
The forgotten conflict behind the Netflix drama
The story takes place against the backdrop of the Congo Crisis, a period of severe political instability and violence that lasted from 1960 until 1965.
The film begins with the killing of Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba and the civil conflict that followed, eventually placing its focus on Irish troops serving as part of a United Nations operation.
At the centre of the story is the Irish Army unit involved in the Siege of Jadotville, whose experiences remained relatively little known for decades.
Jamie Dornan was particularly passionate about bringing their story to a wider audience, arguing that the veterans “didn’t get the recognition they deserved” for what he regarded as their heroic actions.
Viewers call it a war-film ‘must-watch’
For many viewers, discovering the history behind the film has been almost as memorable as the action itself.
One Rotten Tomatoes reviewer described it as “one of the best war movies around,” admitting they previously had “no idea about this story” and calling the soldiers “total heroes.”
Another praised the production as an “amazing true story of real-life heroes,” highlighting both the performances and storytelling before declaring it a “must see.”
The film has also been praised for avoiding some of the conventions viewers associate with more formulaic war movies.
One audience member argued that many other films in the genre seem “slightly cheesy” by comparison, praising The Siege of Jadotville for its abundance of realistic battlefield action and its refusal to overload the story with unnecessary sentimentality.
Another viewer described the film as an extraordinary account of “valour, determination and intelligence against brutal force.”
The cast trained like soldiers before filming
Achieving a convincing level of realism was important to the filmmakers.
Before production began, director Richie Smyth sent the cast to a training camp in South Africa. His approach was straightforward: if the actors were expected to convincingly portray soldiers on screen, they first needed to experience military-style training.
That preparation helped shape the film’s combat sequences, an aspect of the production that has continued to receive praise from audiences.
Alongside Dornan, the cast includes Emmanuelle Seigner as Madame LaFontagne, Jason O’Mara as Jack Prendergast, Mikael Persbrandt as Dag Hammarskjöld and Mark Strong as Conor Cruise O’Brien.
Together, the ensemble brings to the screen figures connected to a conflict that had rarely received this level of mainstream dramatic attention.
An award-winning war drama
The Siege of Jadotville went on to win three Irish Film & Television Awards, further recognising a production built around an overlooked chapter of military history.
Its combination of a remarkable real-life story, extensive battlefield action and performances shaped by intensive preparation has helped the film continue finding new audiences years after its original release.
For viewers interested in war dramas rooted in genuine events — particularly stories that have received comparatively little attention — The Siege of Jadotville offers an opportunity to discover the experiences of the Irish soldiers at the centre of the battle.
The Siege of Jadotville is available to stream on Netflix.