TARA ROAD

Ireland, 2005, 98 minutes, Colour.
Olivia Williams, Andie Mc Dowell, Iain Glen, Stephen Rea, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Jean- Marc Barr, Brenda Fricker.
Directed by Gillies Mac Kinnon.

Tara Road is based on a novel by Maeve Binchy. Her Circle of Friends was very popular – however, this film received very limited release.

The focus is on two women who suffer some kind of bereavement, Andie Mc Dowell with the accidental death of her son, Olivia Williams in not expecting her husband to abandon her.

As with the popular film, The Holiday, the two women exchange homes and experience transformation. Andie Mc Dowell, grieving for her son, experiences Ireland and comes to terms with her grief, especially through a friendship with a restaurant owner played by Stephen Rea. Olivia Williams, a quiet mother and wife, finds some exuberance in the United States with the locals, becoming involved in cooking for a restaurant.

The two women act very well. Iain Glen has a thankless role as the callow husband. Jean- Marc Barr appears briefly as a suitor for Olivia Williams. Brenda Fricker has a supporting role as the wife of the manager of a company which goes under, precipitating a crisis for the Irish family.

The film was directed by Gilles Mac Kinnon, a director with a wide range of films principally in Britain including Pure, Regeneration and an American film, a variation on the Silas Marner plot, A Simple Twist of Fate with Steve Martin.

1.The popularity of Maeve Binchy’s stories? The Irish setting, the American setting and the blend?

2.The Dublin locations, the ordinary, the touristic, the sights? Homes, streets and restaurants? The musical score – and the Irish songs? The contrast with the United States, open, homes, restaurants?

3.The intercutting of the episodes in Ireland and the United States? The parallels and contrasts with the two women?

4.The title, the place, the home, the business collapse, the issue of the ownership of the house?

5.A popular story of difficulties, home exchanges and their effect?

6.The introduction to Marilyn, her marriage to Greg, love for Dale, his party, the gift, the bike, his friends? His death? American exuberance, Marilyn’s friends, the party? The reaction to Dale’s death?

7.Marilyn, quiet, no mention of her son, her harsh attitudes towards Greg and her behaviour? Her friends? Their support? Dale’s friend and her judgmental attitude towards him? His responsibility?

8.The introduction to Ria? The relationship with Danny, her children? Her life in Dublin? Her friendship with Colm? Ordinary, happy, unsuspecting?

9.Danny, his work, his relationship with his boss, the affair with the secretary? His wife knowing? The cover-up? Danny and his work for the company, the investment, the contracts? His relationship with Bernadette, her pregnancy? The pressure from her mother? Telling Ria, Ria’s reaction? Her desperation, ousting Danny? Relationship with the children, their reaction to the separation? The visits, seeing Bernadette?

10.Marilyn’s phone call, the idea of changing houses? Following through? Marilyn and her leaving America, arriving in Dublin? Greg going to Hawaii? Ria, sadness, going to the airport, her tears, the ambiguous reaction of her children?

11.Marilyn and her visit to Dublin, the sights? The house, her response, finding Colm in the garden, talking to him? The friendship with Rosemary? Ria’s mother and her snubbing her? Quietly working in the garden? Persuaded to go to the party, the tensions and her leaving? Colm and the friendship? Danny’s arrival, the issue of the key, his claiming that she wore jackboots? Talking with Ria? Greg’s arrival, the possibility for change, their being together?

12.Ria, the loud friends, welcoming her to the United States? The gossip? Her not realising that Dale was dead? Her feeling freer, socialising, her clothes, shopping, cooking, the gay friends and the restaurant and employing her? Singing, the party? Greg’s brother, his arrival, reaction, going out with him, resisting him? The children arriving, the reconciliation with the children? Their understanding what had happened to their mother, their attitude towards their father? Danny, his arrival, his motives?

13.The failure of the company, Danny and his desperation, the documents, the ownership of the house, going to the US? Trying to reconcile with Ria? The phone call, the truth? The background of his relationship with Rosemary and Bernadette?

14.Ria returning to Dublin? Marilyn and her friendship with Mona, the discussion of the situation? Mona as hard-headed, the documents, calling the meeting, controlling it? The truth? Enabling Ria and the children to have the house?

15.A satisfyingly happy ending? The truth, hypocrisies exposed? Hope for the future?