THE LAST OF THE HIGH KINGS
Ireland, 1996, 102 minutes, Colour.
Catherine O’ Hara, Jared Leto, Christina Ritchie, Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Rae, Colm Meaney, Lorraine Pilkington, Jason Barry, Emily Mortimer.
Directed by David Keating.
In Ireland twenty years ago, youngsters were hanging around. This film has a familiar plot: the young man waiting for his end of school results, fearing failure and what he will do with his life. The difference is that this is Dublin, 1977, and the young man (sensitively played by Jared Leto) comes from an eccentric family, an absentee actor father and an intense, political and devoted mother (Catherine O'Hara in a striking performance).
Ireland has been changing in recent decades with entry into the European union, with the Church losing some of its authority and political influence and a growing prosperity. This film highlights the contrast between the older generation and its staunch beliefs and attitudes and the coming generation who cannot understand the lack of tolerance.
The film mirrors the changes to be seen in the growing number of Irish films as the industry makes films for its home audiences and they are being seen abroad.
1.A film about Ireland? Universal interest? The 1970s, the changes of the 70s?
2.The title, history, expectations, self-importance?
3.The setting in Howth in the 1970s, the outskirts of Dublin, the suburbs, the ordinary settings, homes and school? The musical score?
4.The Elvis Presley background, Elvis as king? Blue suede shoes …?
5.The writing by Gabriel Byrne? The focus on Frankie? The introduction, the exams, his failure? His relationship with girls? The holidays? Scratching the wall? His family, in itself, the quiet times, the meals, relating to each other? Dad and his leaving? The mother and her pride? The holidays, idle? Nelson and his friends? The beach party? Hopes?
6.Erin and her visit, American background, Catholic, awkward, the table, the guitar, the bus and the cheerleader? The pictures, night and the lies? Leaving? Jayene and Romy? The contrast? Watching at the beach, meeting on the bus? Jayene, sex and reaction, Romy and talk?
7.Frankie and his changes, the outbursts about the Protestants? The priest? The results?
8.Max, the actress, eccentric, pride? Dad and his acting? The kids? Bigotry? Jimmy and the politics, the sexual advances? Anger at Frankie, the records, changing? The picture of the Irish mother?
9.Dad and his acting, the gatecrashing, absence from the family, his return?
10.The children, especially the retarded child, Ray and performance, and stories? The party and poteen?
11.The character of the taxi driver, his contribution to the plot, interactions with the characters?
12.Jimmy and the politics?
13.The priest, as a priest in Catholic Ireland, the changes towards the church, friendship?
14.Nelson, his reactions, Elvis Presley?
15.The film’s comparison of the girls: Erin, Jayene, Romy? The attitude of Kathleen towards each of them?
16.Kathleen as devoted mother, fervent, strong likes and dislikes, political?
17.Howth, the details of life in Howth? The wake?
18.A film about a young man growing up, rites of passage in a change Ireland?
