A TRUE 'HARVEST' OF TROUBLED IRISH PAST.Byline: Gene Vier Special to the Daily News Some very good films are coming out of Ireland these days, but "Broken Harvest" is quite possibly the best. It is also the first motion picture entirely financed in Ireland itself; astonishing a·ston·ish tr.v. as·ton·ished, as·ton·ish·ing, as·ton·ish·es To fill with sudden wonder or amazement. See Synonyms at surprise. that a movie of this quality was made for $750,000. Written by director Maurice O'Callaghan and his sister Kate Sister Kate can refer to:
v. ob·sessed, ob·sess·ing, ob·sess·es v.tr. To preoccupy the mind of excessively. v.intr. with the past. Arthur O'Leary (Colin Lane) was a hero in the 1920s War for Independence, and there are bad feelings between him and neighbor Josie McCarthy (Niall O'Brian). Though they fought the English together, they ended up on opposite sides in the civil war that followed. (O'Leary insisted the six Ulster counties should be included in the republic of Ireland, McCarthy disagreed.) Josie also remains bitter that Catherine (Marian Quinn) chose O'Leary as her husband instead of himself. The story takes place in 1954, a period of transition many Irish prefer to put behind them, including his wife. "You've got to forget the past," she says. "The war is over" - but not for O'Leary, a recognized republican hero. O'Callaghan cleverly interweaves '20s war scenes in black and white so they contrast with the magnificent color of the countryside, which was shot by Jack Conroy, the cinematographer of "My Left Foot." O'Leary, returning from a long stint in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , finds it difficult to make a go of it on his small farm. He finds the country in the hands of big farmers and bank managers. However, Josie McCarthy - who stayed home - has a large, prosperous farm. When harvesting time comes around, Josie with his tractor, manages to beat a brewing brewing: see beer. storm. But the downpour ruins Arthur's crop due to his slower equipment. It's a "broken harvest" - the centuries-old fear among the Irish. Knowing full well the bank is ready to foreclose fore·close v. fore·closed, fore·clos·ing, fore·clos·es v.tr. 1. a. To deprive (a mortgagor) of the right to redeem mortgaged property, as when payments have not been made. b. and that Josie is just waiting to buy his farm, O'Leary snaps. The inevitable explosion follows. Eschewing sentimentality Sentimentality Checkers dog given as gift to Nixon; used in his defense of political contributions during presidential campaign (1952). [Am. Hist.: Wallechinsky, 126] Dondi comic strip in which sentimentality is the main motif. , director O'Callaghan partially views the hardscrabble hard·scrab·ble adj. Earning a bare subsistence, as on the land; marginal: the sharecropper's hardscrabble life. n. Barren or marginal farmland. Adj. 1. village life through the eyes of O'Leary's boy, and his use of local characters around the town rings of authenticity. All the actors in the professional cast are fine, but because of the dramatic possibilities of his part, Colin Lane as O'Leary is particularly effective. THE FACTS The film: "Broken Harvest" (not rated; adult themes). The stars: Colin Lane, Niall O'Brian and Marian Quinn. Behind the scenes: Written and directed by Maurice O'Callaghan and Niall O'Brian. Playing: Laemmle Sunset 5 at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Our rating: Four Stars. |
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