FAR AND AWAY

US, 1992, 134 minutes, Colour.
Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Thomas Gibson, Robert Prosky, Barbara Babcock, Cyril Cusack, Colm Meaney.
Directed by Ron Howard.

Far And Away is a long and lush movie about Ireland at the turn of last century, depressed Irish and wealthy Irish migrating to the U.S., their troubles in Boston, the Oklahoma run of 1893 and their becoming pioneers. It is the romantic and rousing stuff of big popular novels and the screen adaptation is in this vein. Directed by Ron Howard (Backdraft, Parenthood, Nightshift, Splash, Cocoon), the film uses 70mm stock to get maximum effect from the Irish landscapes and the American cities and open spaces of last century. It is very attractively photographed. The film is a star vehicle for Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman (who had appeared in Days of Thunder). Robert Prosky and Barbara Babcock are Kidman's parents and Cyril Cusack has a guest role as an elderly Irish rogue. The film was dismissed as too romantic and soft, the criticisms seem to expect a masterpiece rather than popular entertainment at a romantic level (in the vein of movies of the past). The result is a romantic and rowdy at times crowd- pleaser.

1. The blend of romance and action? The scope of the plot and the parallel with popular best seller novels?

2. The re-creation of Ireland in 1892, the west coast and the bleak towns, the mansions of the land owners? The slums of Boston? Railroad work and the Ozarks? The Oklahoma run and the camps and the spread of the land? Costumes and decor and atmosphere of the 1890s? The musical score and the use of Irish airs by John Williams? The final songs, especially by Enya?

3. The title, America and Ireland?

4. The history of migrants to the U.S. their experiences in the old world, poverty and depression, the need for freedom? The reality of what they found? Equality, opportunity? Self made migrants? The American dream? The importance of the land being given away, identifying with land?

5. The poor Irish, the village, the men berating the landlord? The accident and Joseph's father being injured? The question of rents? Oppressed Ireland, the men and their drinking, their talk? The hardness of the land? The farm, the destruction of the houses, the burning of the mansion by the angry Irish?

6. Joseph and his work, with the donkey, his antagonistic brothers, their fighting, his boxing skills? His fathers injury, dying and the death experience, coming back with the bequest for his son? The picture of the men in the village, the old man who gave the news to Joseph? His urging him on in his quest against the Christies? Captain Moonlight ? and the villagers farewelling him? His journey, on the donkey, the pub and minding his own business, the encounter with Christie. his anger? His attempts to shoot him in the dark with Christie drunk? The donkey running away? Sleeping in the barn, Shannon and her confronting him, stabbing his leg? In the mansion, recovery, the lady visitors and his outburst, the attack on Steven? The challenge to the duel, Christie standing by him? Shannon coming in the night. her wanting freedom, to go to the U.S.? Her riding past, his running after the cart? Leaving Ireland?

7. Shannon, strong willed, outriding? Her relationship with her family? Her mother and the guests, dressing up? Playing the piano and the band music? Her curiosity about Joseph, looking at him on the bed? Her coming in the night, getting her things, planning to go to America? Her father drinking? The expected engagement to Steven, her hostility to him? With the cart and horse, escaping? On the boat, meeting Mr Maguire? The plans for success, taking her family silver? Joseph on the boat, following with the umbrella, eating the chocolate cake? High hopes?

8. The reality of Boston, the crowds, off the ship, Mc Guire suddenly shot, the spoons stolen? The farewell to Joseph and his return? Her class consciousness? The young boy touting for fighters, taking them to Kelly’s, the boxing, Shannon bespattered with blood? Kelly’s reaction, Joseph able to fight, their getting accommodation? The brothel and the squalor, the room and its ugliness? Shannon and her haughtiness, claiming to be Joseph's sister? The clash in the room, their managing with each other? The Irish in Boston, the prejudices, the Italians? Grace and the girls in the burlesque, prostitutes? The boxing bouts, the bets? Kelly and his organisation? Political contacts?

9. Money and dreams Joseph and his saving, the sexual frustration, the reserved attitudes of both? Joseph going for a fight, taking up with Grace? His successful bouts, his not wanting to be owned by the politician? Buying the hats? The clash with Shannon? Her going to the burlesque? The build-up to the big fight, wanting the money for "us"? Declaration of love? The build-up, the Italian, Joseph and his anger at the politicians treatment of Shannon? His loosing the fight, it's brutality? Their being ousted from their home? People turning away? Wondering the streets, the snow, hungry? The house, the declaration of love? Shannon being shot? Joseph taking her to her parents?

10. The portrait of the Christie’s, the marriage, Dan Christie drinking, the mother's propriety? Steven as the administrator of the estate? His cruelty? The house burnt? The mother trying to get Shannon's letters? The decision to go to America, in Boston. the search for Shannon? Joseph overhearing it? The decision to go to Oklahoma?

11. Joseph and Shannon, different class, different religion? The clashes, the adaptation, change? Shannon learning equality? Joseph becoming a celebrity? Their hopes? Joseph going to the Ozarks, working on the railroads, the hardships? Watching the pioneers going to Oklahoma? The train ride, his watching, listening to the comments. going to join them?

12. Oklahoma, the evening before the run? His trying to buy a horse? The encounter with Shannon, with Steven? Getting ready for the run. his horse dying? The confrontation with Shannon? Dan Christie and his wife, their cheating, waiting, riding round and round implanting the flag? The run, wagons toppling, shootings, people running, accidents? The choice of the land? Steven and Shannon riding, Joseph pursuing? Finding the land? Down the cliff, the river? The confrontation with Steven, the fight? Joseph's accident, his death experience and the camera tracking up above and coming back? His declared love for Shannon, their planting their claim, the end?

13. Popular story. story of migrants, different classes, romance, battle of the sexes, the American dream?