The downtrodden taking on their oppressors — it’s an age-old dramatic theme which gets tender treatment in ‘The Violin’, set in 1970s Mexico during the peasant revolution.

It follows the fortunes of a trio of travelling musicians, covering three generations, who use their craft as a cover for gun-running for the rebels.

Soon the army are hot on their heels and they come home to find troops driving out most of their fellow villagers and murdering the rest.

The soldiers unwittingly stay sitting on the peasants’ arms stash which inspires the patriarch Don Plutarco to put his violin case to good use and retrieve the ammo on a donkey bought, in a deal with the devil, from one of the robber barons.

The mission means breaching the army cordon and forces Don Plutarco to strike up a relationship with the head of the occupying force.

The tension mounts still further as the viewer is utterly drawn into the unbearable plight suffered by the peasants who live under the boot whichever way the turn.

Out on the hillsiders the evicted villagers, with babes in arms, bare the elements, buoyed by the hope they can one day strike back if only they can get organised. When not gun-running, Don Plutarco takes his grandson under his wing and lovingly departs grandfatherly advice in tragic circumstances.

Although high on emotion this film is light on history. I knew nothing about Mexico’s peasant revolution of the 1970s before viewing ‘The Violin’ and I scarcely know anymore now.

But it certainly makes the case for who the bad guys are.

It’s a simple tale, simply told and is achingly poignant. Aside from the graphic opening scene depicting torture and rape the director opts for understatement. Sparse, well chosen dialogue is enriched by powerful performances by the whole cast and no wonder Don Angel Tavira, as Don Plutarco, picked up the best actor award at Cannes.

My only criticism was the decision to shoot in black and white — never necessary — and it makes reading the subtitles impossible in some places. But as a film ‘The Violin’ hits very few discord notes and its theme will surely leave you with a lump in your throat and an urgent need to dab your eyes at lights up.