Picturenose

Striking back against the Empire

Ken Loach’s controversial, Palme d’Or-winning study of Republicans v the Brits in 1920s Ireland raised the hackles of several well-known UK critics (who, customarily, didn’t feel the need to actually see the film) as well as Irish commentators. It’s normally a sign that an artist has got something right when he angers both sides of a debate and claims of bias seem moot when a film comprises such lyrical beauty, steadfast portrayals and a marvellous, articulate script.

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Blues heaven…
It was with a poignant shrug, a sigh and a great deal of whining on my part that I was first dragged bodily toward watching this movie, many years ago. The object of my desire at the time had said: “It looks great - it’s the first in a trilogy of semi-autobiographical films about the playwright Neil Simon.” Imagine my excitement. It didn’t take long, however, for me to be introduced once again to a concept not unfamiliar to me - that of being proven horribly wrong.

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