MO

UK, 2010, 110 minutes, Colour.
Julie Walters, Gary Lewis, David Haig, Stephen Mackintosh, Adrian Dunbar, Toby Jones.
Directed by Philip Martin.

Mo is a star vehicle for Julie Walters who has portrayed a number of famous people in movies made for television including A Short Stay in Switzerland and Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story. She now plays the celebrated politician Mo Molam. Mo Molam was significant in the discussions in Northern Island which led to the 1998 Good Friday treaty. She was the secretary of state for Ireland for two years.

However, just before the 1997 election, she had a medical check-up and was found to have a tumour on the brain. She kept up her political career for several years until Tony Blair removed her from secretary of state for Ireland to another cabinet position.

The film shows the drama of the discussions and negotiations in Northern Ireland, the bigotry, the political difficulties and religious differences and how Mo Molam, not short of a swear word when needed or not, was able to handle the various characters including David Trimble (presented unsympathetically) and Gerry Adams. There is also the background of the interest of Bill Clinton and his representative George Mitchell.

The film also shows the deterioration in Mo Molam’s health. She is supported by her husband (played by David Haig) who believed she could have been the party leader. Also in support is Gary Lewis as the MP Adam Ingram who worked with Mo in Ireland and had a great admiration for her. The film is directed by Philip Martin, director of a number of television movies including two of the Wallender series.

1.The impression of Mo Molam? In real life? As dramatised?

2.Audience knowledge of British politics? Sufficient background and explanations? Tony Blair and New Labour? The election in 1997? The negotiations in Northern Ireland? The 1998 Good Friday agreement? The personalities of Tony Blair, Peter Mandelson, Mo Molam?

3.The atmosphere of the times, the 1990s? In England? Parliament? In Northern Ireland? In discussions? The background of the people of Northern Ireland and the divisions? The significance of the centuries-old divisions, the desire for union, the antipathy towards union? The dependence on England?

4.Julie Walters’ performance as Mo Molam: in mid-life, her relationship with Jon, his children? Her place in politics? Ambitions? In opposition? The importance of her health, her going to the doctor, the support of the doctor, the brain tumour? Her direct approach to her illness? Asking direct questions about how long? The secrecy? Her decision to keep it from the public, the phone call to Tony Blair? Her manner with Blair on the phone? The chemotherapy, its effect, nausea, hair falling out, the fitting of the wigs? The comment of the television reporter about her wig? Her success in the elections?

5.Mo Molam and Ireland? The support of her husband? Not seeing him during the week? The reunions? The family meetings? Friends? The encounters with David Trimble and his hostility? The meeting with Gerry Adams and Martin Mc Guinness, the attitude of the IRA and Sinn Fein against the British? Her using her tactics? Her taking off her wig and scratching her head? Her salty language?

6.The issues in Northern Ireland, policing, the release of prisoners – and her accepting that as a consequence? Later in the film when the released prisoner came for her autograph and his praise of her? The issue of the parades and the Orange attitude towards parading through Catholic areas? David Trimble and his despising her?

7.The international negotiations, George Mitchell from the United States, the conversations with Bill Clinton? The conversations with Tony Blair? Tony Blair taking over, the criticisms by Jon? Her not regarding them as true?

8.Her friendship with Adam Ingram, their working together, his personality, able to tell her the truth, her angers with him? His meeting her after her retirement and the bond between them?

9.Peter Mandelson, taking over, his attitude towards Mo Molam? Her despising of him? His becoming secretary of state for Ireland, the announcement and praise – and her going behind the pillar and venting her anger?

10.The discussions with the doctor, his continued care of her, giving her advice, friendship?

11.Mo Molam and her disillusionment? Her retirement? Her continued illness? Her writing a column, appearing on television, her book, the book-signing?

12.The doctor and his advice about the tumour, the possibility of it having been there for years, her wondering about her personality and what was determined by her own self and what was determined by the tumour?

13.The picture of Jon Norton, his relationship with Mo, the marriage, the tensions, his ambitions for her, his despising of Tony Blair? His unrealistic putting her on a pedestal?

14.A glimpse of the politics of the period? A personality? Behind the scenes? Achievement despite limitations of illness, drinking, personality? The popularity of Mo Molam amongst people?