Between Ghosts

In this romantic drama, a British journalist embedded with an SAS unit on the frontlines of the Iraq War in 2006 unexpectedly finds companionship with the unit's leader. Connor Regan is still coming to terms with the death of his brother, who was killed in action three years previously, and hopes to gain closure by reporting directly from the field. Sgt. Nat Thompson is determined to keep Connor safe as he and his team search for a dangerous terrorist leader. Soon enough, Connor and Nat indulge in their mutual desires, seeking release and satisfaction amidst the stress and horrors of war. What starts off as a clear-cut physical relationship soon grows deeper, just in time for a routine mission to go horribly wrong. Leigh does an excellent job of capturing the raw emotional connection between the leads and her depiction of the war-torn setting is convincingly tense. However, the story suffers from predictability as it moves from one plot beat to the next, leading to the inevitable confrontation with Nat's target. (Mar.)