This is a honourable film that has hits and misses. Watch it for the performances, particularly Redgrave's. Its most telling line is this: Bravery in the face of the enemy

The Secret Scripture is a highly streamlined adaptation of Sebastian Barry's 2008 Man Booker finalist.

Its lack of nuance and persistent plotting issues frequently undermine much of the potential emotional heft.

Adapted from an award-winning novel that no doubt gave the time and space for its characters to breathe, the movie fails to give any emotional weight to those on screen.