In a world where most action movies are big-budget blockbusters full of explosions, gunfights and scenes of mass destruction, it is refreshing to see something on a smaller scale.

More personal and thought-provoking, “71” is such a movie.

It combines the classic feel of thrillers like “Three Days of the Condor” with modern styles like “The Bourne Identity” and a healthy dose of suspense – all while never sugarcoating the seriousness of its subject matter. But if it doesn’t interest you, it also manages to squeeze in a few gunfights and impressive stunt work for those expecting to get their adrenaline pumping.

Set in 1971, a British soldier, named Gary Hook (Jack O’ Connell), is deployed with his unit to Belfast, Ireland, during The Troubles, a period of violent conflict between Catholics and Protestants.

When their mission to retrieve hidden stashes of firearms causes a riot, the soldiers are forced to retreat and Gary is left behind in the confusion. Alone in the city, he finds himself being hunted by a group of radicals and must survive long enough for his comrades to rescue him, only with the help of people who risk death for associating with him.

In the wrong hands, this could have been a formulaic action flick with hardly any emphasis on character. Director Yann Demange, however, effectively balances drama and action to do the exact opposite and deliver a truly robust piece of cinema.

The narrative makes great use of this technical prowess, combining on-location filming in England with Tat Radcliffe’s amazing cinematography to stage some riveting action scenes.

It also makes perfect use of low-tech cameras to simulate an older, grittier feel like thrillers from the 1970s, which provides a sense of authenticity that feels suitably documentary-esque.

But while “71” is fun to watch, its real strength is the moral themes it explores. Watching Gary receive help from people on both sides amidst intense scenes of violence offers a satisfying glimpse of optimism, while seeing the horrific things people will do to each other because of intolerance is equally infuriating.

There’s a particular scene involving a bomb that results in something both unexpected and utterly shocking but it perfectly reflects the situation and everything wrong about it. Despite being set over 40 years ago, the film serves as a perpetual cautionary tale that feels especially relevant today.The film’s primary focus on Gary puts O’Connell’s performance front and center and this is a superb performance.

His character isn’t able to talk much (due to concealing his identity) but each line is delivered with emotional sincerity and every facial expression perfectly conveys his feelings in any given situation, all of which make for a surprisingly human character.

Other noteworthy performances from the supporting cast include Sean Harris as an undercover agent; Killian Scott as a villain; and Richard Dormer as a doctor who helps Gary.

“71” might not start a new trend of indie thrillers overshadowing their big-budget counterparts but it’s a good ride nonetheless.

It seems like every year Hollywood has to pump out several standard issue action movies to meet a certain quota, so it’s good to see something every now and then that offers something new.

And since we don’t often get movies like that, which are capable of being both entertaining and thoughtful, it becomes important to appreciate them when we do.