Plot
Political activist Jimmy Gralton is deported from Ireland during the country's 'Red Scare' of the 1930s.
Release Year: 2014
Rating: 6.7/10 (2,647 voted)
Critic's Score: 60/100
Director: Ken Loach
Stars: Barry Ward, Francis Magee, Aileen Henry
Storyline
1932. Jimmy Gralton is back home in the Irish countryside after ten years of forced exile in the USA. His widowed mother Alice is happy, Jimmy's friends are happy, all the young people who enjoy dancing and singing are happy. Which is not the case of Father Sheridan, the local priest, nor of the village squire, nor of Dennis O'Keefe, the chief of the fascists. The reason is simple: Jimmy is a socialist activist. So when the "intruder" reopens the village hall, thus enabling the villagers to gather to sing, dance, paint, study or box, they take a dim view of the whole thing. People who think and unite are difficult to manipulate, aren't they? From that moment on they will use every means possible to get rid of Jimmy and his "dangerous" hall.
Writers: Paul Laverty, Donal O'Kelly
Cast: Barry Ward -
James Gralton
Francis Magee -
Mossie
Aileen Henry -
Alice
Simone Kirby -
Oonagh
Stella McGirl -
Stella
Sorcha Fox -
Molly
Martin Lucey -
Dessie
Mikel Murfi -
Tommy
Shane O'Brien -
Finn
Denise Gough -
Tess
Jim Norton -
Father Sheridan
Aisling Franciosi -
Marie
Seán T. Ó Meallaigh -
Journalist
Karl Geary -
Seán
Brían F. O'Byrne -
Commander O'Keefe
Taglines:
Where Anything Goes and Everyone Belongs
This movie opposes two different and opposed views of the world: that
of Jimmy Gralton, who apart from wanting to open a dance hall, is also
a left-wing idealist. Although Ken Loach makes not mystery of his
sympathies in this movie, as usual he remains even-handed, lets the
opposition have their say, and never makes the conservative side appear
as ridiculous or stupid. In fact the heart of the movie is the
confrontation between Jimmy Gralton and Father Sheridan, which despite
the depth of conflict, is fundamentally based on a grudging mutual
respect.
What, indeed, could be wrong with opening a dance hall and cultural
center? Well in the thirties Ireland was recovering from years of
bloody conflict, first the war for independence, followed by more years
of civil war. Father Sheridan argues that now is the time for
reconciliation, not for political agitation, and what he sees as
communist propaganda. It is time for being Irish together, for
listening to Irish music rather than "alien Jazz from deepest Africa".
Of course the Loach's sympathy (and ours) goes to the yearning of the
young people who have no place to go, no prospects, no jobs, and who
desperately want to find some joy, relief and self-expression. The
movie may be a bit slow at times, but it is deeply moving.
0