The Mark of Cain (2007 film)

The Mark of Cain
Soldiers under fire in Iraq
Directed by	Marc Munden
Produced by	Lynn Horsford Liza Marshall Nicola Shindler Katy Jones
Written by	Tony Marchant
Starring	Matthew McNulty Gerard Kearns Leo Gregory Shaun Dooley
Music by	Ben Bartlett
Cinematography	Matt Gray
Edited by	Philip Kloss
Distributed by	Film4 Productions Revolver Entertainment
Release date	2 February 2007 (Netherlands, World premiere) 9 February 2007 (Germany) 9 April 2007 (UK, DVD premiere) 12 April 2007 (UK, TV premiere)
Running time	90 min.
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Mark of Cain is a British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award-winning British television film first broadcast in 2007 following three young men as they experience the extremity of war for the first time, and the permanent effects of what they have seen and done as they return from their tour of duty. Rather than heroic stories, all they bring home are tawdry trophy photos, as well as the secrets of what they really did, until the consequences of their actions surface to confront them.

Produced by Red Production Company, it was originally scheduled on Channel 4 at 9 pm on 5 April 2007, but was rescheduled to 12 April 2007, in light of the detention of British service personnel by Iran. The film's title comes from Royal Irish Regiment Colonel Tim Collins's eve-of-battle speech in Iraq in 2003.

The film begins with Private Shane Gulliver (Matthew McNulty) of the 1st Battalion, Northdale Rifles marching to a court martial. The film then cuts to Gulliver's arrival in Basra, Iraq with fellow soldier Mark Tate (Gerard Kearns). Once there, they are briefed by their commanding officer, who tells them to treat the people of Iraq with respect. While on patrol the troops are ambushed by insurgents, and the men witness the death of their CO, Major Godber (Shaun Dingwall) whilst trying to rescue a Territorial Army private who is struck with shock while in a Land Rover and is incapable of taking cover. After this the troops receive reports that the insurgents came from a village nearby.