What Is Shake Hands with the Devil About?
The premise of Shake Hands with the Devil in 239 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the turbulent summer of 1993, the world watches as a fragile cease‑fire teeters on the edge of collapse in a small Central African nation. The United Nations dispatches a seasoned Canadian officer to oversee a multinational peacekeeping contingent, tasked with maintaining a tenuous calm amid escalating tensions. The landscape is stark—dust‑scarred streets, crowded refugee camps, and a looming sense of uncertainty that hangs over every village and city alike.
Roméo Dallaire arrives with a reputation for steadiness and a deep sense of duty, stepping into a command that feels both under‑resourced and mired in bureaucratic hesitation. He confronts a patchwork of forces from different countries, each carrying its own rules of engagement and political calculations. The atmosphere is a blend of cold official protocol and the raw, human desperation of those caught in the crossfire, creating a stark contrast that heightens the film’s tension. The tone is deliberate and sobering, immersing the audience in the weight of responsibility that rests on a single leader’s shoulders.
As Dallaire navigates the maze of diplomatic directives and on‑the‑ground realities, he must reconcile his own moral compass with the limited tools at his disposal. The story unfolds against a backdrop of looming humanitarian catastrophe, where every decision reverberates far beyond the immediate arena. In this fragile setting, the film invites viewers to contemplate the complexities of international intervention, the cost of inaction, and the quiet courage required to stand against overwhelming odds.
What Happens in Shake Hands with the Devil?
The complete story of Shake Hands with the Devil, from the first scene to the last, in 766 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
In 1921 Dublin, a young Irish-American medical student named Kerry O’Shea is immersed in the daily realities of a city shielded by secrecy and danger, where the guerrilla war of the Irish War of Independence presses relentlessly around him. He approaches life with a wary detachment, having endured the brutal violence of World War I, and he longs for a quiet path in the aftermath of so much bloodshed. Yet the beeping pulse of conflict cannot be ignored, and the fight between the Irish Republican Army and the British Black and Tans draws him inexorably into the middle of it.
Early on, Kerry and his friend Paddy Nolan find themselves caught in the crossfire of an IRA ambush. Nolan is shot by British troops, and in his final moments he urges Kerry to seek out Sean Lenihan, a respected professor who also operates as a high-ranking IRA leader known as “the Commandant.” Lenihan dutifully removes the bullet, but Nolan dies nonetheless, leaving Kerry to grapple with the weight of a life-and-death decision. Because Kerry had left his textbook—carefully inscribed with his name—at the ambush site, he becomes a wanted man, a mark for both sides to use or discard as the situation demands. Lenihan then carries Kerry to meet a commander referred to simply as “the General,” a longtime comrade of Kerry’s father, and the tension between loyalty, duty, and personal safety begins to press in from every direction.
When Kerry refuses the invitation to join the IRA, the General arranges for him to be quietly ferried out of Ireland, hoping to defuse the danger that now clings to him. Lenihan escorts him to a seaside hideout, the base of an IRA unit led by Chris Noonan, where the murmur of conspiracies and the crackle of danger fill the air. Lenihan’s disapproval grows sharp upon discovering Kitty Brady, a local barmaid, sharing a life among the men at the hideout, a detail that adds another layer of complexity to Kerry’s already fragile situation.
The plot thickens when Liam O’Sullivan, a top IRA figure, is wounded while escaping from prison. Kerry agrees to accompany the unit to the rendezvous point to administer care, hoping to ease the clandestine mission’s burden. O’Sullivan is discovered in the boot of Lady Fitzhugh’s car and is killed in a tense shootout near the pub, as British forces search the premises. A young man, Terence O’Brien, attempts to conceal a pistol—an act that defies Noonan’s orders—and when the weapon is found, Kerry is seized and brutally beaten by Colonel Smithson of the Black and Tans. Kerry refuses to speak, a choice that cements his ties to the IRA in the eyes of his captors and marks a turning point in his personal journey. Lenihan responds with a bold rescue raid, and in the wake of the violence Kerry experiences a newfound sense of allegiance: he decides to join the IRA.
Lady Fitzhugh is imprisoned and begins a hunger strike, a stark symbol of the political theater surrounding the conflict. Lenihan takes a shocking step by kidnapping Jennifer Curtis, the daughter of a prominent British adviser, intending to force a prisoner exchange. In the midst of these escalations, Kerry finds himself drawn to Jennifer, a relationship that adds emotional stakes to the political calculus. Meanwhile, Kitty Brady encounters trouble of her own—when things turn dangerous for her, she chooses to leave Ireland, a decision that echoes the broader costs of the ongoing struggle.
The plan for a final confrontation intensifies as Lenihan prepares to assassinate Colonel Smithson at the dock. Suspicion of betrayal begins to creep in when Kitty, by pure chance, tries to board a ship at the same time, casting doubt on loyalties and motives. A brutal exchange of gunfire follows, and Lenihan shoots Kitty dead, a moment that leaves a lasting scar on everyone involved and reshapes how the characters view the path toward peace.
From a lighthouse vantage point, two crucial pieces of news cut through the fog of war: Lady Fitzhugh has died, and the British have offered a peace treaty. The General is content with the prospect of peace, but Lenihan refuses to concede to such a bargain. When he makes the choice to execute Mrs. Curtis, Kerry is forced to act, stepping into the line of fire to prevent a miscarriage of justice. The confrontation ends with Lenihan’s death as Kerry and others exchange shots, a brutal but decisive moment that seals Kerry’s transformation from a reluctant observer into a participant willing to risk everything for the lives of those he has come to care about.
Shake Hands with the Devil Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Kerry begins his path into the conflict” to “Climax at the lighthouse”. 14 events name a place, across 14 locations.
- 1
Kerry begins his path into the conflict
In 1921 Dublin, Kerry O'Shea is a medical student studying during the guerrilla war. He is apolitical and reluctant to kill, even after fighting in World War I. The conflict's violence begins to touch his life as the IRA and Black and Tans clash around the city.
When:1921 Where:College of Surgeons, Dublin
- 2
Ambush disrupts Kerry's world
Kerry and his friend Paddy Nolan are caught in an IRA ambush. Nolan is shot by the British while trying to protect his companions. This deadly moment draws Kerry into the dangerous world of the IRA and the war.
When:1921 Where:Dublin (ambush site)
- 3
The Commandant and the summons
Lenihan, the IRA's Commandant, removes the bullet from Nolan's wound, but Nolan dies anyway. Kerry is told to fetch Sean Lenihan, an old comrade and the IRA leader. This request marks Kerry's first direct entanglement with IRA leadership.
When:1921 Where:Ambush site
- 4
Meeting the General
Lenihan takes Kerry to meet the General, the IRA's senior leader and an old comrade-in-arms of Kerry's father. Kerry refuses to join the IRA at this point, and the General arranges for a boat passage out of Ireland. The encounter sets Kerry on the path toward deeper involvement.
When:1921 Where:Meeting with the General
- 5
Sea hideout and Kitty's trouble
Lenihan leads Kerry to a sea hideout where an IRA unit operates under Chris Noonan. The harsh coastal living underscores the strain of guerrilla warfare. Lenihan is furious to find Kitty Brady, a barmaid, consorting with the men.
When:1921 Where:Sea hideout, by the coast
- 6
A wound leads to a mission
Liam O'Sullivan, a top IRA leader, is wounded escaping from prison. Kerry agrees to accompany the unit to the rendezvous point to treat him. This medical mercy deepens Kerry's involvement in the IRA's perilous mission.
When:1921 Where:Road to rendezvous point
- 7
O'Sullivan's death and the escalation
O'Sullivan is discovered in the boot of Lady Fitzhugh's car and is killed in a shootout by the British. The incident heightens the stakes for everyone connected to the mission. Kerry watches as the violence closes in on his circle.
When:1921 Where:Lady Fitzhugh's car
- 8
Capture and the beating
When soldiers check the people in the nearby pub, Terence O'Brien tries to hide a pistol against Noonan's orders. Kerry O'Shea is taken away and brutally beaten by Colonel Smithson, but he refuses to talk. The interrogation demonstrates the peril of speaking or aiding the IRA.
When:1921 Where:Nearby pub
- 9
Rescue and resolve
Lenihan leads a raid to rescue Kerry from captivity. The attempt strengthens Kerry's resolve, and he decides to join the IRA. The line between doctor and fighter grows increasingly blurred.
When:1921 Where:IRA operation area
- 10
Lady Fitzhugh's hunger strike
Lady Fitzhugh is sentenced to prison and goes on a hunger strike. The protest becomes a symbol of resistance within the escalating conflict. The political dimension of the war deepens as more civilians become entangled.
When:1921 Where:Prison
Show the other 4 events of Shake Hands with the Devil Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Kidnapping for leverage
Lenihan kidnaps Jennifer Curtis, the widowed daughter of a top British adviser, to try to force a prisoner exchange. Complications ensue when Kerry falls for her, complicating loyalties under the pressure of wartime negotiations. The romance strains alliances and decisions.
When:1921 Where:Dublin (exchange negotiations)
- 12
Kitty's decision to leave
Kitty Brady gets into trouble, and the mounting danger fuels her decision to leave Ireland. Her departure marks a personal cost of the conflict and the strain it places on those connected to the IRA. The war's reach touches all walks of life.
When:1921 Where:Ireland
- 13
Dockside betrayal and death
Lenihan prepares to assassinate Colonel Smithson at the dock. Kitty, purely by coincidence, tries to board a ship there, and Lenihan shoots Kitty dead in cold blood. The moment underscores the brutal calculus of loyalty and power under occupation.
When:1921 Where:Dock
- 14
Climax at the lighthouse
At the lighthouse, the unit learns that Lady Fitzhugh has died and that the British have offered a peace treaty. The General is satisfied with the peace, but Lenihan is not. Kerry intervenes as Lenihan attempts to execute Mrs. Curtis; they exchange shots, and Lenihan is killed.
When:1921 Where:Lighthouse
Who Are the Main Characters in Shake Hands with the Devil?
4 characters, among them Kerry O'Shea, Kitty Brady and Sean Lenihan: who each one is and the part they play in the story.
- KO
Kerry O'Shea
An apolitical medical student drawn into the Irish conflict after a violent ambush. He grapples with his duty as a healer and his reluctance to take sides, only to be pulled deeper as he treats wounded combatants and navigates a complex political romance.
- 🧭 Protagonist
- 💔 Moral conflict
- KB
Kitty Brady
A local barmaid entangled with the IRA unit whose loyalties and choices become entwined with Lenihan's plans. Her involvement exposes the personal risks of the conflict and leads to a pivotal, tragic turn.
- 💌 Romance
- 💔 Tragedy
- SL
Sean Lenihan
A high-ranking IRA leader known as the Commandant, whose charisma and uncompromising stance push operations and kidnappings. His dedication to the cause drives brutal decisions that test loyalty and morality.
- 🔥 Leader
- ⚖️ Extremism
- CS
Colonel Smithson
A brutal officer of the British Black and Tans who represents the oppressive forces opposing the IRA. His enforcement methods and willingness to instill fear underscore the film's critique of wartime cruelty.
- 🛡️ Oppression
- ⚔️ Brutality
Where and When Is Shake Hands with the Devil Set?
Shake Hands with the Devil is set in Dublin and Ireland (1921). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1921
The story unfolds in 1921 Dublin, during the Irish War of Independence. Guerrilla warfare, prison rescues, and reprisals define the tempo of everyday life, while leaders maneuver for a peace that may not fully satisfy all sides. The period is marked by political pressure, uneasy negotiations, and the looming possibility of a treaty that could redraw loyalties.
Where
Dublin, Ireland
Dublin in 1921 is a city at the heart of the Irish War of Independence, where guerrilla ambushes, political tensions, and British patrols collide with daily life. The landscape shifts between crowded pubs, sea-front hideouts by the coast, and tense dockyards where exchanges and raids unfold. The city’s academic world—embodied by the College of Surgeons—persists alongside the brutal reality of conflict, shaping the characters' choices and fates.
- 🏙️ City
- ⚔️ War-torn
- 🌊 Coastal
- 🕰️ 20th Century
What Are the Themes of Shake Hands with the Devil?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Moral Dilemma, Loyalty Betrayal and Human Cost.
-
01
Moral Dilemma
The film centers on a medical student pulled into a violent struggle, forced to balance healing duties with the pull of political allegiance. Each ambush, capture, and interrogation tests his ethics and sense of innocence. As violence escalates, the line between right and wrong becomes increasingly blurred.
-
02
Loyalty Betrayal
Loyalty to friends, lovers, and a cause collides as leadership and orders clash with personal reluctance. Relationships are strained by danger, suspicion, and the pressure to choose sides. Betrayals and difficult choices culminate in consequences that reverberate beyond the individuals involved.
-
03
Human Cost
The human toll is shown not only in battles but in the personal costs—fear, hunger strikes, prisoner exchanges, and the deaths that punctuate the pursuit of peace. Civilians become casualties of a broader political conflict. The narrative emphasizes how ordinary lives bear the weight of strategic decisions.
What Kind of Film Is Shake Hands with the Devil?
Tense in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A tense and gritty war drama that follows a reluctant medical student's brutal transformation into a soldier, set against the bleak backdrop of the Irish War of Independence.
- tense
- gritty
- somber
- anxious
- brutal
- claustrophobic
- political conflict
- moral dilemma
- war violence
- coming of age
Content notes: war violence, brutal beating, execution, imprisonment, political violence.
Quiz
How well do you remember Shake Hands with the Devil? Test yourself on the story.
