Cinematic representations of unconventional warfare have received sporadic attention to date. However, this pattern has now begun to change with the rise of insurgency and counter-insurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the growing importance of jihadist terrorism in the wake of 9/11. This ground-breaking study provides a much-needed examination of global unconventional warfare in 20th-century filmmaking, with case studies from the United States, Britain, Ireland, France, Italy and Israel.

Cinema's encounter with colonial insurgencies --Special operations on screen -- Hollywood, terrorism and the myth of special forces -- Italian neorealism and beyond -- The mercenary subgenre and counter-insurgency -- France's bitter retreat from empire -- Israel and reframing siege warfare into counter-terrorism.