JACK TAYLOR: SHOT DOWN

Ireland, 2013, 100 minutes, Colour.
Iain Glen, Hazel Doupe, Nora –Jane Noone, Michael Collins, Karl Shiels, Emmet Kirwan.
Directed by Stuart Orme.


Jack Taylor: Shot Down is the sixth television film in the series featuring Iain Glen as Jack Taylor, former member of the Garda in Galway, disillusioned with his experiences, let loose in the south of Ireland and becoming involved in private detection.

This film focuses on Jack Taylor’s rescue of a traumatised young girl at the death of her mother. He decides to become involved, though the little girl’s family are not initially enthusiastic. They are Travellers, living in their caravans, and experiencing a feud with the family of the murdered woman’s in-laws.

There are various complications, hostilities because of the feud, links with the drug trade, and emotional tangles with the dead woman, including with a non-Traveller lawyer.

The film works well as a television drama, a murder mystery, detection, or with the atmosphere of the Irish locations. As with the other films, it has been directed by Stuart Orme.


1. The status of the television series? The popularity? The original novels? The Irish settings?

2. Ireland, the towns, the world of the Travellers, the coast, the woods? The musical score?

3. Iain Glenn as Jack Taylor, throughout the series, his work for the police, his experiences in detection, tough, the shooting and the man in the coma? His relationship with Kate? Leaving the North, leaving relationships? His drinking? Freelancing? Memories and regrets?

4. His meeting Rosie in the woods, the effect, saving her? Meeting the family, offering to help, the reaction? His being hit, coming to? The visits to the various families, their hostilities? His continuing with Rosie, the investigation?

5. The Travellers, their way of life, the Catholic piety and imagery? The trailers, in the parks? The various clans? The role of Bryson, lawyer, his presence? The feuds, the bonds, Eddie and Sharon, marrying, bringing families together, yet not? The music, the songs? Eddie as a type, drugtaking, involved in drug dealing? Sweeper, his wife, care for Rosie? The revelation of the truth?

6. The abduction of Rosie, Taylor and his calling in Kate? Finding her, the guitar, Kate able to talk to Rosie? Rosie and her moving from dislike to liking Jack? Her memories, trying to surface them? Her remembering the killer, the drugs? The background of the drug dealer, the toughness,her picking the kids up from school, Michael as her henchman?

7. The grandfather, Rosie and the bond with him? The other members of his family, the young man and his abducting Rosie, framing the others?

8. Eddie, his being killed, the consequences?

9. Sweeper, the fight, Jack stopping it?

10. The unravelling of the mystery? Jack and his dealings with Rosie, remembering Bryson was present? Bryson, his personality, his links, his love for Rosie’s mother? His being present with Michael?

11. The pursuit through the woods, Jack and his return, finding Rosie, protecting her?

12. Michael, his boss, the tough stances, the shooting, his death?

13. Bryson, being wounded, the truth of his hitting Sharon, Michael shooting her?

14. The effect of this experience on Jack, and experience of being humanised, his protection of Rosie?