DVD review: 5 Days of War

Journalists have never been on the end of too many plaudits and events in England, and have recently seen the profession's stocks fall even lower.

But 5 Days of War shows the important role journalists can play in exposing the horrors of war to a mostly unsuspecting world.

War correspondents are not exactly everyday reporters but a special breed of newshounds who live for the adrenalin that comes with reporting from a war zone.

Thomas Anders (Rupert Friend) is one such reporter - a lost soul without anyone in his life to grieve should a sniper's bullet find him.

Anders' great love, Miriam, died in an ambush in Iraq and now he lives only for his craft.

The impending war between Georgia and Russia brings Anders and his cameraman, Sebastian (Richard Coyle), and the regular crew of daredevil correspondents to Eastern Europe to report on events.

With the world preoccupied with the Beijing Olympics, the reporters struggle to get any networks interested in what appears to be a localised struggle for independence.

Frustrated, Anders and Sebastian cross into the disputed South Ossetia province to see what the invading Russians are really up to.

With the help of local Tatia (Emmanuelle Chriqui), they capture on film the atrocities being committed.

But now they face the almost impossible of task of surviving long enough to get the film to the outside world in time to stop the growing war.

Based on a true story, 5 Days of War is compelling viewing and gives us a gripping insight into the reality of war.

Stars: 4/5

5 Days of War

(R16) Madman Entertainment