SnoopyStyle
Widowed Kieran Johnson (James Caan) is a high school history teacher in Chicago. His sister struggles to take care of their mother Fiona Flynn with dementia and her teenage son Jack. Kieran takes Jack back to Ireland to search for their roots. In Kilronan, he discovers that his teenage mother Fiona fell in love with poor farm worker Kieran O'Dea (Aidan Quinn) who may be his biological father.The performances are lovely. James Caan starts it off with really nice character work. The flashbacks have Aidan Quinn doing solid work. He delivers a gruff charm. Moya Farrelly is a sweet newcomer. This is a fine Irish love tragedy with good performances anchoring it.
seanpjs93
I think mainly you have to understand that in the 1930s The Catholic Church was above all, they invoked huge fear into people and people knew no better, and they were in a life where they had to live in a way that would not go against the church's teaching. This film really give the best historical account of Irish life of the 1930s, it shows the old parish dances and the way people worked, and how their lives were so set out in a way that wouldn't really give them much freedom. This is shown especially in the scenes where the locals go to Croagh Patrick, the priest tells them that they all are expected to be there, that coming from a priest back then was like an order from the president. Also in the scene where Fiona sneaks over to see Kierán after he was told in confession to stop seeing her and not kiss or think "unclean thoughts" of her anymore, that particular scene shows the fear and gullibility of the Irish Catholics of the time. Afterwards in the barn where Kierán tells Fiona that he asked god to help him to stop thinking about her and it hasn't stopped, this kind of showed a form of thinking that if you pray for help and the help isn't given, what you feel is how you're meant to feel. All in all it's a brilliant film and account of Irish life in the 1930s
pacieterra-1
Although beautifully filmed in Kildare, Ireland, this mini-epic of two families intertwined history does not fulfill its promise. James Caan tries diligently to portray the American son of an Irish farmer he never knew existed and a mother who has blocked the love-of-her-life from her children. The three brothers Quinn produced this film, and gave the tragic, starring role to Aiden. He is the heart and soul of the saga, with John Cusack adding a small, comedic, interlude. Moya Farrelly is all heart and sadness as the lost love who grows into old age with her secrets.There is a lot going on in this story, interweaving various themes that can easily be missed. Interesting flashbacks of the young Aiden Quinn's father character, juxtaposed with the present-day,aging Caan son"s character, makes for a strange plot device.Overall, this is a worthy film, but leaves many questions unanswered.
cogitoergosum-1
Oh my God, I'm on a roll with these obscure movies I never heard of. Somebody please tell me how these movies had little if any press yet are so good.This gem takes place in both the modern day and back in Ireland in the late 1930's. It is a story of where one man came from. Who his father was and how he was connected to his mother.Gorgeous cinematography and solid acting make this a must see! Once again, it caters to my love of movies about people with flavor, zest, zeal and the bittersweet truths of life.Give it a watch, you'll be glad you did.
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