Shadow Dancer

Set in 1990s Belfast amid the Troubles, Shadow Dancer follows Colette McVeigh, a devoted mother caught between personal loyalty and political peril. When agents from a covert security operation recruit her to help, she finds herself pressured to betray people she has trusted, all in the name of protecting her son. Faced with impossible choices, she weighs the costs of obedience and the danger of saying no. The film builds a quiet but relentless tension as it maps the moral compromises forced on an ordinary woman swept into a dangerous game. The atmosphere is cool, precise, and starkly realistic. Its mood stays taut. The camera lingers on quiet streets and conversations, heightening tension and underscoring the cost of a choice.

Directed by James Marsh from Tom Bradby's novel, Shadow Dancer pairs Andrea Riseborough with Clive Owen and Gillian Anderson in an adaptation of a political thriller. Produced on a budget of 6.3 million dollars, it was shot in Northern Ireland.

The movie earned about 1.78 million dollars worldwide, a modest result given its 6.3 million budget. It opened in limited markets, mainly in Europe and select North American cities, appealing to viewers who enjoy restrained, character driven thrillers and intrigue.

The film's restrained approach to themes of loyalty and motherhood has been noted by critics, with Riseborough's performance highlighted as a standout in a quiet mood driven Belfast thriller that avoids sensationalism. Its careful attention to mood and Belfast setting adds texture to the political thriller landscape and lingers there.

Critics generally praised the film's controlled pace, performances, and political subtext, noting its focus on moral ambiguity rather than action. The central themes revolve around motherhood, loyalty under pressure, and the cost of choosing sides in a divided city, all delivered with stern restraint that lingers long after the credits.