INTERMISSION

Ireland, 2003, 105 minutes, Colour.
Colin Farrell, Cillian Murphy, Colm Meaney, Kelly Macdonald, Brian O’ Byrne, Donald Wilmot, Shirley Henderson.
Directed by John Crowley.

Intermission indicates that the characters are at some middle point in their lives, between the important sections. The film is a Dublin kaleidoscope of characters, continually intersecting.

Colin Farrell is quite intense as a thug, interacting with his partner’s girlfriend, played by Kelly Macdonald, who is having a relationship with a married man – to the anger of his wife who wants to kill him. In the meantime there is a desperate young man, Cillian Murphy, also involved with Kelly Mac Donald.

And there is a policeman played by Colm Meaney, pursuing Farrell, but also entangled with a television filmmaker who wants to portray his life on the streets for television.

Much of the film is Irish tongue in cheek, a blarney entertainment which is both serious and comic.

1. A range of Irish stories, the transition from the 20th century to the 21st century, ordinary people, people considered losers?

2. The film’s impact depending on characters, plot developments, sub-plots, the intercutting? Their interconnections?

3. The credits, the map, the indications of place, people and their places?

4. The title, the background of the theatre and a play, life and first and second acts?

5. The city, homes, pubs, streets, clubs, shops, police precincts? The musical score and the Irish tone?

6. The variety of plots and subplots?:

7. Lehiff, the opening, his look, talk with the girl at the counter, sweet-talk, suddenly bashing her, stealing the money, the chase, his escape, meeting the bus driver? The talk and the plan? His meeting with Jerry and Jerry’s threats? the job, the abduction, wearing the masks, talking to Deidre, curiosity, cooking, his hitting her, her attempt to escape, his getting away, the car chase, Jerry pursuing him, the confrontation in the field, the director present, filming, pulling the gun, the director and his shooting Lehiff?

8. John, his friends, with Oscar, his upset with Deidre and her breaking off the romance? Working at the store, the boss and his superciliousness, the clashes, punching in, his being sick on the floor of the store, the manager upset? meeting with Lehiff, the plan, the masks, his keeping silence and writing notes, in the car, watching Sam, the plan going wrong, his return, the truth, the reconciliation with Deidre, his list for improvement, her accepting this?

9. Mick, driving the bus, arguing with the passengers, chatting with his friends, the pub? The boy throwing the Stone, the bus accident? Upturned? He said he is sitting before the board, his being sacked? Involvement in the plot? In the car, seen the boy and pursuing him, the chase, on the edge, the boy seeming to save him, let him go, the crash, his injuries, in medical care, the race with the man in the wheelchair, his winning and being the King?

10. Oscar, his friendship with John, working in the store, preoccupation with sex, going to the shop, getting the video, masturbation, his meeting Sam’s wife at the club, dancing, going home with her, the relationship, her vigour, too much to him? In the shop, with John, the clashes with the boss? His decision not to go for the abduction job? His meeting Sally, relationship with her, a future?

11. Jerry, his work as a policeman, tough, self-image, clashes with Lehiff and telling him off, the chases, the arrest of the young drug dealer, the idea of the film, persuading the director, flattering him about his independence, filming on the street, action, the fights, the chase, the director filming everything, the director shooting Lehiff, Jerry being in his debt?

12. The film director, his work, at the rabbit hutch and their not coming out, the failure? The interviews about the bust accident? Wanting to get the light? The criticisms of the photographer? His proposal to his boss? The permission, but his project considered too tough? Talking with Jerry, persuaded to do that program on the street, with the chase, and the shooting of Lehiff?

13. Deidre, her life, her relationship with John, the break, the affair with Sam, going out, living in, her mother and Sally at the meeting, Sally and her harsh comments about adultery and walking out? Breaking off with Sam? The abduction, with Lehiff, trying to escape, being hit? Sam and his going to get the money, in the case, his changing his mind, his wife’s arrival and beating him? His being ousted? His return home and his wife’s control over him, changing television channels?

14. Deidre’s mother, pleasant, shopping, with Sally, the meal and the upset about Sam, seeing the accident, the television interview, watching it on television?

15. Sally,her moustache, drawing attention to it, attitudes towards life, her mother, Deidre, the discussion about Sam, the filming, her being upset, meeting Oscar, and the bond with him?

16. The combination of stories, slices of life?