THE NEPHEW
Ireland, 1997, 104 minutes, Colour.
Donald Mc Cann, Pierce Brosnan, Sinead Cusack, Hill Harper, Aislan Mc Goughan, Niall Toiban.
Directed by Eugene Brady.
The Nephew was produced by Pierce Brosnan's company. Later films included The Match and the more successful Evelyn.
The film tells a familiar story about Ireland, an isolated island village, the secrets and the infighting, the rivalries and the hurts. Into this community comes a stranger from the outside, not only the son of the woman who felt banished from the island twenty years earlier, but a black man. He is generally accepted, even though the people are very surprised. However, it is his relationship with his uncle, with the young woman whose father (Pierce Brosnan) owns the bar and his trying to preserve the memory of his mother that keep him going. There are various emotional conflicts - which have been seen in many an Irish film. However, the strong cast brings this story to life in rather picturesque settings.
1. A story of Ireland? Old Ireland and its narrowness, new Ireland and the need for changes?
2. The beauty of the island, the community, close-knit? The details of the town, the houses, the farm and the fields, the pubs, the church? The range of songs?
3. The film not only as a picture, but as a critique of old Ireland and the urge to change and broaden horizons?
4. The picture of the community, inward-looking, relationships, betrayals and hurts, feuds for decades? The role of the church? The wake, mass, confessions?
5. Tony as the focus, the embittered old man, unmarried, memories of his sister, his having driven her away, his friend and the bringing of the letters, Karen's death? The feud with Joe Brady? At work on the farm, the relationship with Brenda, her wanting him to marry her? His being the father of Peter but never acknowledging him? Chad's arrival, his reaction, getting him to work hard on the farm, thinking him irresponsible when he went out? The impact of the wake and Chad singing like his mother? His suspicions, the truth about the letters, his reaction about the drawings of Aisling, the build-up to the confrontation? Chad's leaving, the wharf, his being offered a second, even a third chance, his taking it? A future?
6. Brenda, the pub, her friendship with Karen, talking to her a year later, feeling that Karen thought she had betrayed her by loving Tony, her relationship with Peter, his working in the bar? The impact of Chad singing at the wake? Inviting him home, telling him the truth?
7. Chad, his father and his death, his mother and his love for her, learning the Irish tradition? His being black and people's surprise? The kids in the town imitating him with the scarf and his hair? His going to the wake, singing beautifully, people's response? His befriending Tony's assistant? The attraction to Aisling, going for walks, talking with her, the friendship, the beginnings of love? The drawings? Friendship with Brenda, going to hear the truth from her? His hard work, the confrontations with Joe, the truth about the letters? His wanting to scatter his mother's ashes? His decision to leave, the confrontation with Tony? At the boat, his offering him the chance, his staying? The funeral and the reconciliation with the scattering of his mother's ashes?
8. Joe, his story, the clash with Tony, love for Karen, her pregnancy, her going abroad, Tony concealing the letters? His bitterness? His marriage, over-protectiveness of Aisling? His reaction to the drawings, the confrontation? The truth of the letters and confronting Tony? His going to the wharf?
9. Peter, his relationship with his mother, working at the bar, his father having nothing to do with him? In love with Aisling, his anger, the fight with Chad?
10. Aisling, attracted to Chad, the shared moments together, the tour of the island, the talks with Rachel? Her feeling unloved by her father? The discussions, the bitterness, the reconciliation?
11. The minor characters in the village, the postman and his proposing to Brenda, Tony's assistant and his being drunk at the wake, befriending Chad?
12. The details of life on the island, the traditions, the wake the church and the priest, confessions, drinking at the bar, hard work on the farm? The need for change in Ireland at the beginning of the 21st century?
