6 DAYS

UK, 2017, 94 minutes, Colour.
Mark Strong, Jamie Bell, Abbie Cornish, Ben Turner, Martin Shaw, Tim Pigott Smith.
Directed by Toa Fraser.

The six days of the title are those when the Iranian Embassy in London was under siege from terrorists in 1980.

The Islamic Republic of Iran was established in 1979, with the accession of Ayatollah Khomeini. Gone was the period of comparative freedom with the Shah. However, the Republic was very severe with Arab groups in the north of the country, torturing and imprisoning. The siege of the Embassy in London was by a group of Arabs to protest this treatment. It was a demonstration – but no realisation that the British government was not really in a position to negotiate. And, with Mrs Thatcher becoming Prime Minister of England, her stances against terrorism were absolutely strict.

The film recounts the six days with titles. Ben Turner is good as the central terrorist, Salim, who is willing to do some negotiation. The chief negotiator is played, rather quietly but with intensity, by Mark Strong. Jamie Bell is one of the leaders of the SAS who train outside London, are invited to come to the capital, set up beside the Embassy with a reconstruction of the rooms (which have to be corrected by the caretaker). The SAS waits the week, eager for combat, while politicians meet, especially Willie Whitelaw, the Minister responsible, negotiating with Mrs Thatcher. He is played by Tim Pigott Smith and Martin Shaw plays one of the police to be consulted.

The coverage by the BBC was famous in its time and Katie Wade is played by Abbie Cornish.

Direction is by Toa Fraser, New Zealander, who made No 2 as well as Dean Spanley.


1. Action drama? Based on actual events in 1980, London? The Iranian Embassy, hostages and the siege?

2. The recreation of the period, the use of newsreel footage of the events? London, April 1980, Princes Gate and the embassy? The exteriors of the streets, aerial shots? The interiors of the embassy? The interiors of the school and other offices? The training centre for the SAS? The action of the siege?

3. The title, the naming of the six days, introduction to the characters, places? Musical score?

4. The political situation, the accession of Mrs Thatcher, Prime Minister, not seen but heard, newsreel footage, hard in management, an example of the Iron Lady? Wanting to give an example of the treatment of terrorists?

5. The Embassy, the staff, the terrorists entering, the guns, rounding up the staff, the police inspector, tensions, the guns? Keeping the hostages for the six days? Terror? The issue of food?

6. Salim, his leadership, terrorist? The motivation for the siege? The Arabs in Iran? The Persian domination? Prison and torture? Ayatollah Khomeini? The early years of the Islamic Revolution? The other members of the group? The military experiences, arrest and torture? Salim, the negotiator, impatient yet able to extend deadlines? Sending out hostages? Talking with Max? The pressure from the more fanatic men? The shooting of the embassy staff member? The changing of the situation? His negotiations, Max and his consideration, bringing the food? The final lies and the promises for the escape?

7. The authorities? William Whitelaw, the minister responsible, liaising with Mrs Thatcher? At the meetings? Her firm decisions? The other advisers? The hypotheses for the attack? The military advice?

8. Max, as a person, negotiator, more quiet? The background of his wife and children? The discussions, the strategies? The phone calls, the bond with Salim, reassuring him, getting the postponements, bringing the food, the release of hostages? The personal pressure? His not wanting an SAS attack? Ultimately, talking with Trevor, with Salim, hearing the shots? The reassurance about the bus and transport to Heathrow? His ultimate dismay? The phone call to his wife, reassurance?

9. The contrast with the SAS, Rusty, the rehearsals at their base, testing out their strategies and tactics? The call, the gung-ho attitude? The various members of the team and the background, training? In the buses to London? Setting up the headquarters, the discussions, the tactics, the building of the model, the rehearsals, the caretaker and explaining the model was wrong? Waiting, standing down? Ultimately going in, the plan, scaling the walls, the guns, smoke, confrontation with the terrorists? Shielding the hostages, getting them out? The death of the terrorists? Salim? One surviving – and imprisoned?

10. The police, the decisions, the strategies, liaising with government officials?

11. The BBC, Katie Wade, her cameraman, staying, covering the siege for days, her commentary, getting vantage points? The final tribute to her and her work?

12. The final information, the subsequent careers of all concerned?