From revolutionary heroes to heartbroken singers with big dreams, there is one thing the Irish are unrivalled at and that is telling a story. Here are seven Irish films that have made you laugh, made you cry and made you want a daughter called Sharon who you could scream “AH JAYSUS SHARON” at constantly…
1. The Quiet Man
“There was a wild colonial boy, Jack Duggan was his name…” A somewhat sentimental interpretation of old Ireland through the eyes of director John Ford, the Quiet Man tells the story of a champion boxer, Sean Thornton, who returns to his homeland to escape his career only to fall in love with the fiery red-head Mary-Kate Danaher. Completely unknowledgeable about old Irish traditions, Thornton finds it difficult to assimilate into Irish life but is given guidance by the star of the production, Michaeleen Og. Perhaps a little too “ah sure, it’s grand, we’re Irish” for some, The Quiet Man is not without its charm, not least the countryside Ford lovingly films or the beautiful Maureen O’Hara.
1. Into the West
Ever been at a party about 3am in a foreign country and screamed “IT’S A HORSE TITO!” only to be met with confused stares? That certainly doesn’t happen at home because every single Irish person over the age of 20 knows what film you are referring to. Into the West tells the story of Ossie and Ruaidhri (nicknamed Tito), Papa Reilly, the King of the Travellers children, are given a horse who is subsequently stolen. The pair set out to find the aptly named Tir na nOg and escape inner city Dublin to go into the West…
3. The Barrytown Trilogy
For years following the release of the Snapper, the uttering of the phrase “good girl, Sharon,” was enough to make the hair stand on end at the back of your neck. The genius Barrytown trilogy, which owes its success to writer Roddy Doyle, are some of the most loved of Irish films. Colm Meaney’s turn as the father in the Snapper made us laugh but also made us want to hug him to death, we rooted for the success of the Commitments and The Van made us feel entirely sentimental about Larry and Bimbo. Achieving the almost impossible by making a film about inner city Dubliners popular across the entire country, the Barrytown trilogy is a staple in most DVD collections in the country. “GEORGIE BURGESS!!!”
4. The Field
“You’re the Bull, you’re the bull, you’re the bull!” The first of the Jim Sheridan masterpieces to make it to the list is the incomparable The Field. A frightening tale of just how far one man will go to keep the land of his ancestors, the film which is based on the John B. Keane play, examines themes which the Irish have struggled with since independence, “outsiders”, the land, marriage, ownership and family. Richard Harris, who received an Oscar nomination for his efforts, was born to play the Bull and John Hurt’s turn as Bird O’Donnell, although comical was occasionally upsetting. The reality is the Field is not really about the field at all, but the relationships and situations it has created. A masterpiece, not just in terms of Irish cinema, The Field is arguably one of the greatest achievements in character acting. Richard Harris, you are still sorely missed…
5. In the Name of the Father
The now notorious story of the Guilford 4 was the subject of the other Jim Sheridan classic to make the list. Daniel Day-Lewis plays Gerry Conlon, a petty thief from Belfast who was accused, along with three others, of the bombing of a pub by the I.R.A. Subjected to hours of questioning, Conlon confirmed involvement in the crime with police coercion. Along with his father, who subsequently died in prison, Conlon spent 15 years in prison and never gave up the attempt to clear his name. Although Sheridan depicts the outside implications and the press surrounding the case, the most touching part of the story is the relationship between Conlon and his father Guiseppe, played by the late great Pete Postlethwaite. Warning, this may make you exceptionally angry at humanity in general…
6. Once
Yes, the lead singer of the Frames has an Oscar! No one knew on its release that Once would become the little Irish film that could. Hansard and his co-star Marketa were barely singing their lives around Dublin before they found themselves on stage at the Oscars accepting Best Original Song. The simplest of tales, Hansard plays a musician who is suffering following a break-up with his girlfriend and runs into a Polish girl on Grafton Street who basically just wants him to fix her hoover. The pair form an unlikely musical partnership and fall just a little bit in love. Once is so sweet that it is just completely inoffensive and is the perfect example of a little Irish film with a heartfelt story that can make it big worldwide.
7. In Bruges
Farrell has indeed made it big on the international stage, but his best performances always come from Irish films; In Bruges is no exception. Revolving around hitman Ray who goes on the run with his colleague Ken after a botched job, In Bruges is perhaps the funniest script to ever make it out of Ireland. Despite his obvious flaws, Ray is guilt stricken about how the job went and constantly, and hilariously, complains about the pair’s visit to Bruges. “THEY’RE FILMING MIDGETS!” Enough said.
