NEVER GROW OLD

Ireland, 2019, 100 minutes, Colour.

Emile Hirsch, John Cusack, Deborah François, Molly McCann, Quinn Topper Marcus, Sam Louowyck, Danny Webb, Tim Ahern, Antonia Campbell-Hughes.

Directed by Ivan Kavanagh.

This is an Irish production – although it is set in the American West, 1849, the central character an Irishman. He is played by Emile Hirsch, was migrated with hopes to the United States with his wife, Deborah François, and his children. He has found employment as the carpenter for the town as well as the coffin maker.

This is a very dark film, much of it filmed at night and in the dark.

It opens with an ominous scene, a man striding into a church. The rest is flashback, explaining that it is Patrick going into the church confronting an embodiment of evil, Dutch, played with sinister confidence by John Cusack.

The town is in control of the Temperance Movement, and a fiery preacher with his wife. Patrick has found a place there but would like to move on to California. His wife, on the other hand, is content to stay.

Difficult experience for Patrick, being summoned by Dutch and his associates to point out the wife of a man who has betrayed Dutch. She and her daughter are forced into prostitution, the daughter later shooting a client, tried and hanged.. Dutch takes possession of a hall and turns it into a saloon, defying the governance of the town. Patrick is caught up with Dutch, providing coffins, unwilling to be in Duchess control. The crisis occurs when one of Dutch’s associates who had leered at Patrick’s wife initially, assaults her and he is summoned by his son to her help.

Dutch has told Patrick that he will never shoot – but he does, finally going to the church to shoot Dutch, who shows signs of fear as he is about to die.

An ironic title for a Western where so many never grow old.

1. 1849, the American West, the frontier, the towns, townspeople, the wild West, the reformed West?
2. The locations, the town, homes, the fields, church, cemetery, funerals, the saloon? The feel of the west? The musical score? Hymns?
3. So much of the action taking place at night, in the dark, a story of darkness and shadows? Symbolising evil?
4. The town, the women and the temperance movement, no alcohol, no prostitution? The townspeople agreeing? Preacher Pike and his control, his speeches, intensity, the support of his wife? Life within the town, not making money, but peaceful?
5. Patrick and his family, from Ireland, his wife from France, their life in the town, and intention to go to California, his staying, supporting the temperance behaviour, Audrey, not wanting to move, happy in the town? The two children, their life? Patrick, carpenter, his work as an undertaker?
6. The initial sequence, the man with the gun, going into the church? The rest of the film as flashback, Patrick entering into the church, to confront Dutch?
7. Dutch, his associates, Dum Dum and the loss of his tongue, sinister? Coming in the dark? Questioning Patrick, putting on the pressure, his taking them to the house, the wife and her fear, their attack? The story of her husband, taking the money? His death? The forcing of the wife and daughter into prostitution? The sad consequences, the daughter at the saloon, the man, getting his gun, her shooting him? Being taken, arrested, the trial, her being found guilty, Patrick building the gallows despite Audrey’s pleading? The execution, the crowd, the mother, the girl and her fears, cloth over her head, hanging?
8. Dutch, his background, the decision to settle, to make money, getting the bar, setting it up, alcohol, getting in the prostitutes, the bar manager and his subservience?
9. Dutch, the pressure on Patrick, Patrick and his fear, selling his soul, doing Dutch’s bidding? Dutch and the killings? The funerals.
10. Audrey, her life in the town, hospitality to Dutch, Dum Dum and his leering? His return, the attack on Audrey? The knife, her killing him? Getting the children to get Patrick. His vengeance despite Dutch saying he would not? Going to the Church, the confrontation, his fear?
11. Patrick and his apology to his son, his wife’s death? His being wounded?
12. The final close-up of Patrick? Alive? Dead?
13. The impact of such a grim Western?