Ireland
in Cinema
Based on the award winning
novel by Colm Tôibín, Brooklyn tells the story of
Eilis (Saoirse Ronan), a young woman who uproots her life in Ireland
and travels to Brooklyn to pursue new opportunities. Eilis finds love
in her new life in the form of an Italian-American man called Tony,
played by Emory Cohen. Due to an unforeseen family tragedy, Eilis is
forced to return to Ireland where her past emerges and leaves her
struggling to decide between her old and new life. To celebrate John
Crowley’s BAFTA and Academy Award® nominated film arriving on
Blu-Ray, DVD, and EST from the 29th
of February courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment we look at other
times Ireland has been portrayed on the screen.
The Commitments (1991)
Alan Parker’s The
Commitments follows the chaotic rise and fall
of the Dublin Soul Band of which the film is named after. Robert
Arkins stars as Jimmy Rabbitte, an unemployed Dubliner who finds
himself inspired to start his own band after becoming fed up with the
local music scene. In the hopes of sounding like some of the great
American soul musicians of the 1960s, Jimmy assembles a band. By
recruiting former musician Joey “The Lips” Fagan and sheer
dedication to the cause, Jimmy successfully puts together an ensemble
that brings the soul scene in Dublin to life. Unfortunately, disputes
occur, tensions rise, and members fall out reminding us that not all
good things last forever.
The Quiet Man (1952)
Retired boxer Sean
Thornton (John Wayne) decides to leave Pittsburgh and return to his
hometown in Ireland as an attempt to escape his past. After
purchasing his childhood home, Sean’s attention is captured by a
beautiful local girl, Mary Kate Danaher. Instantaneously he falls in
love and begins courting her. However, Mary Kate is little sister to
the ill-tempered and jealous “Red” Will Danaher, making Sean’s
plan increasingly difficult. The town locals and Mary Kate try to
convince Sean to use his former talent to resolve his problems with
Will, complicating his efforts to disregard a dark moment from his
old life.
My Left Foot (1989)
Jim Sheridan tackled the
true story of Christy Brown in his Academy recognised film My
Left Foot. Daniel Day-Lewis famously plays
Christy, an Irish boy plagued with severe cerebral palsy and the
ability to only control the movement of his left foot. The majority
of the community write him off as intellectually disabled but with
the help of his dedicated mother, teacher, and his own
self-determination Christy is able to prove himself and become a
talented painter, author, and poet. Day-Lewis spent months in a
cerebral palsy clinic to research this role and was rewarded with an
Oscar for his efforts.
PS I Love You (2007)
Holly Kennedy (Hillary
Swank) loses her husband to a horrible illness just before her
thirtieth birthday, leaving her broken and lost. Gerry (Gerald
Butler), the aforementioned love of Holly’s life, anticipated that
his death would have an unwelcomed effect on his widowed spouse and
planned ahead. Beginning on her 30th
birthday, Holly receives a series of letters written by Gerry in an
attempt to help her move on, all ending with the words, “PS. I love
you.” Despite those closest to her thinking the letters are holding
her to her past, with Gerry’s guidance Holly goes on a journey of
rediscovery in this touching story of love and friendship.
Once (2007)
Set in the streets of
Dublin, this incredibly original musical from John Carney depicts the
power of music through a street musician (Glen Hansard) and his
relationship with a Czech immigrant (Marketa Irglova). Together the
pair uses music to fight their problems, work through the past, and
find new love. Their songs portray the emotions they feel in a
beautiful and romantic manner which happened to land the actors an
Oscar award in 2007.
The Field (1990)
The Field is
a classic tale of the struggle between old and new. Taking place in
rural Ireland, Bull McCabe (Richard Harris) is a farmer with a
passionate love for his land. However, when an American outside
declares he wants to purchase the land to build a highway, it becomes
worryingly likely that Bull will lose his field. Unwilling to go down
without a fight, Bull will do anything in his power to prevent
getting rid of his land. Jim Sheridan’s unforgettable film is a
true testament to how far one would go for something they love and a
poignant battle between the past and the future.
