THE BROTHERS McMULLEN

US, 1995, 97 minutes, Colour.
Edward Burns, Jack Mulcahy, Mike Mc Glone.
Directed by Edward Burns.

The Brothers Mc Mullen is a small-budget feature, written and directed by Edward Burns who stars as the middle brother. He has taken an Irish- American family, whose culture is Catholic, and shown how brutality in the parent generation has had its effect on the sons and their capacity for relationships and commitment. It looks at infidelity and betrayal, hurt and conscience and the heritage of Catholic moral norms.

Many who were brought up in a Catholic world thought everybody should behave practically perfectly and set themselves ideal standards. They were very disedified when these were not put into practice; but Catholics were protected, in those days, from a world that was frequently amoral. Many have come to expect that films should portray an edifying world and are often wary of stories that present characters who do not share these values. The Brothers Mc Mullen is an entertaining values challenge.

1.The focus of the title, the Irish- American Catholic family, the relationship between the three brothers? The Long Island and New York State setting, Irish Catholic New Yorkers? Audience expectations?

2.The film and its awards? Small budget production? The Burns family and their contribution? Family and friends?

3.The Long Island settings, homes, apartments? The contrast with the busyness of Manhattan? The musical score?

4.A humane portrait of a family? Strengths and weaknesses? Men and women and relationships? Decisions?

5.Mrs Mc Mullen, the funeral, her demeanour, her memories of her marriage, the clash with her husband, burying him? The advice for her sons? Her influence on their lives and decisions? Her decision to return to Ireland and marry her long-time sweetheart?

6.The portrait of Jack? The oldest son, solid, the brothers moving in with him? His marriage to Molly, their relationship, love, tension? The domestic scenes? The parties, the encounter with Ann, her flirting, seduction? His being able to be seduced while professing his unwillingness? His decision to go into Manhattan, the meetings with her, his succumbing to her? His inability to face the truth about himself? His Catholicism, his work and his coaching? His lies to Molly? His advice to his brothers, listening to their problems? The confrontation with Molly? His admitting the truth? Patrick and the money? His decision to stay with Molly, to commit himself to her again? Jack's emotional journey? The portrait of Molly, in herself, her relationship with Jack, her birthday, the celebrations, family, the deception, her perceiving that there was something different, her ways of challenging Jack, the hurt, the resolution for the future?

7.The portrait of Patrick? In himself, the middle son, relationship with the other two, his professional work? The relationship with Susan? The affair, her Jewish background, her parents? Susan's reactions to him? The possibility of marriage or not? Pregnancy? His friendship with Leslie and the memories of schooldays? His ability to talk with her, ask her advice? The plan to go to California? His going to church, confession, expectations of himself morally, marriage commitment? Susan and her miscarriage and the effect on both of them? His place in the family? Getting the money from Jack? The decision to join Leslie?

8.The portrait of Barry, the youngest, the writer, his wanting to rent the house, the encounter with Audrey and her getting the rental? His callow womanising style? Attracted to Audrey, the meetings, the discussions? His selling his script? His unwillingness to make any commitment? Audrey's response? His finally having to do something about his life, the discussions with his brothers, his stance on commitment - and his finally chasing Audrey?

9.The women in themselves and their relationship with the men? Susan and her family background, affluence, love for Patrick, nagging him, the pregnancy, the miscarriage? Audrey and her ambitions, the rental, interest in Barry, the final decision-making?

10.Leslie and her Catholic background, school, discussions with Patrick?

11.The importance of talk in the film? The enunciation of problems, philosophy of life, the difference between head and heart? Interior monologues? Advice? The realism of the portrayal of the brothers? Insight? - one reviewer remarking that it was a film of irritable intimacy?