EVELYN

Ireland, 2002, 95 minutes, Colour.
Pierce Brosnan, Aidan Quinn, Juliana Margulies, Stephen Rea, John Lynch, Sophie Vavasseur, Alan Bates, Frank Kelly.
Directed by Bruce Beresford.

Evelyn is a very personal project for Pierce Brosnan, reminding him of his own childhood before he moved to England. But it is not just a project about the past, it is testimony, based on a true story, of how a determined individual can change the law. The end of the film tells us that it was only in the 1970s that legislation about rights of parents and the Irish Constitution concerning children in care was modified to help the parents. It also marked a breaking of the strong ties between Church and state seen in such films as The Magdalene Sisters and Song for a Raggy Boy.

Brosnan plays a happy go lucky Dublin painter and decorator whose wife walks on the family. His boys go to board with Brothers and his daughter, Evelyn, with the sisters (some of whom - but not all) are as severe as we might have anticipated.

The action of the film moves from a father's love for his daughter and trying to get her back and his dealing with the law. The legal aspects of the film are handled by the strong cast of Aidan Quinn, Stephen Rea and Alan Bates.

The director is Australian, Bruce Beresford, a director who has tackled a wide range of films over thirty years. His style is rather self-effacing so that the film sometimes comes across as bland with high sentiment at the end. But, these issues of children, the law and care which are not easy to handle with an objective stiff upper lip.

This is a film which presents serious issues with a style geared towards a popular audience.

1. Based on a true story, the characters, the situation, the church, the state, Irish law, the breaking of the link between church and state? Reinterpreting the Irish Constitution in favour of parents?

2. Dublin in the 1950s, the poor areas, the pubs and homes, the contrast with the boarding schools, the dormitories, refectories, classrooms? Legal offices, the courts? The re-creation of the period?

3. The musical score, the songs sung by Desmond Doyle and his father? The spirit and atmosphere of Ireland?

4. The strong critique of the sentiment in the film? Of Pierce Brosnan being too much like James Bond - or not? The predictability of some of the situations and characters, the nuns, the lawyers, the judges? Evelyn herself - cute or realistic? The description of Bruce Beresford's direction as audience-friendly? Sentiment or sentimentality?

5. The portrait of Desmond Doyle, Pierce Brosnan's presence and appearance, accent, singing? The celebration of Christmas in the street, with the kids, their devotion to him, at home? Out of work, painter and decorator? The celebration of Christmas, his father coming over? Going to the pub, looking inside, his wife with the Englishman? Her coming home, getting up, leaving, going to Australia? Evelyn seeing her leave and following her, getting her father, the effect?

6. Desmond and Evelyn going after the mother? The wife's parents, their love for the children, hostility towards Desmond, humiliating him, reporting him to the authorities? The contrast with his supportive father? The authorities coming to discuss with Desmond about the children's future, his stating that he was their father? Taking him to the court, the hearing, the harshness of the judge, the interpretation of the law, the need for consent of the mother? Taking the children?

7. The boys going to the Brothers, the brother welcoming them, not such a bad portrait of the Brothers, school, sport, their missing their father?

8. Evelyn being taken to the nuns, her not wanting to go, the severity of the arrival, Sister Bridget as stern, Sister Felicity as kind, Sister Teresa as sometimes, kind, sometimes stern? The dormitory, her place, the refectory, talking with the other girls and the length of time they had been in the orphanage, issues of haircuts? The details of daily life, the classroom, the girl being given the strap, Evelyn's protest, Sister Bridget taking her outside, hitting her, later saying that she had fallen down the stairs, confirming that story in court and therefore committing perjury? Evelyn writing letters to her father, wanting to leave?

9. Desmond and his drinking, at the bar, the friendship with Bernadette, seeing Nick and being suspicious of the Yank? The decision to sing, travelling around and singing with his father? His father's collapse and death, the funeral? The relationship with Bernadette, hesitant, Bernadette's visit to the home, urging him to stop drinking while still giving him moral support?

10. Dad and Desmond going to the orphanage, climbing the wall, the dogs, failing to go in and take Evelyn? His anger at Evelyn's letter, going to Sister Bridget and shaking her, her later quoting that in court?

11. The discussions with Michael, the legal stance the Constitution? Going for walks with Michael, hearing the situation? Going to his office, finding him fishing, pursuing him into the water, discussions with Michael and Nick? Nick deciding to take on the case? Their looking up Tom Connolly, Desmond's respect for him as a footballer, remembering the games? The decision to take on the case, the presentation in the court, the severe judge, stating there was no appeal? The prosecuting lawyer and his behaviour?

12. The issue of the Constitution and parents' rights, Nick and his taking this stance, Tom Connolly supporting him? The research, Michael and his support? The three judge, the severe judge from the former case deciding against, one judge in favour, the presiding judge and his "howevers"?

13. The press, the celebrity and the television interview with Desmond, his radio comments outside the court? As a national event, like a sports event, the various listeners, especially the children at the schools?

14. The portrait of the lawyers, Michael as Irish, friendly with Bernadette, refusing to take on Desmond because it was a hopeless case, being challenged by him? Nick, Irish- American, the friendship with Michael, challenged by Desmond? Tom Connolly and his past reputation, in retirement, being persuaded, going to the court, sitting in the gallery with Bernadette?

15. The grandfather and the explanation of the sunlight as "angel rays", Evelyn coming into the court, the testimony, bewildered at first, stating the truth, especially about Sister Bridget? The sun and the angel rays and thinking her grandfather present?

16. The decision, the children coming to the court, being reunited with their father? The overall humanity of the film?