BLACK IRISH
US, 2007, 95 minutes, Colour.
Michael Angarano, Brendan Gleeson, Tom Guiry, Melissa Leo, Emily Van Camp, Michael Rispoli.
Directed by Brad Gann.
Black Irish is a story from South Boston, the Irish area. The Irish consider themselves tough, black Irish, with a Catholic background.
This is a coming-of-age story where Michael Angarano (Man with the Chair, Gentlemen Broncos) is a teenager who is learning to stand on his own feet. He comes from quite a dysfunctional family: the father, played by Brendan Gleeson, an alcoholic and with menial jobs, Melissa Leo as his bitter mother, Emily Van Camp as his unmarried pregnant sister, Tom Guiry as his criminal-record older brother.
The film shows the family and their problems, their bickering. It also shows the young boy, following his mother’s desire that he be a priest and going to the junior seminary, having to face life, the problems of the family yet standing on his own feet, finally confronting his brother who is about to shoot the restaurant owner (Michael Rispoli) who has employed him.
There is a kind of hopeful ending as the terminally-ill father leaves hospital to go to watch his son play baseball, a talent that he has been able to develop by himself.
The film won a number of awards at festivals, praising it for its presentation of the life of a teenager coming to terms with life.
1. The title, the Irish, Irish Americans, Boston, tough, the migrant background, the Irish heritage, the Catholic heritage?
2. Boston and the neighbourhoods, homes, restaurants, baseball fields, schools, church? Atmosphere of realism? The musical score?
3. The story of Cole and his family, the tough family, the disappointments, the wedding and the mother’s reminiscences about her husband, the drinking, the father and his not succeeding at baseball, jobs and losses, menial jobs, his terminal illness? Terry as tough, the lack of affection for him as a boy, criminal record? Kathleen and her pregnancy, her boyfriend, handling the situation, her mother’s intervention? Cole as the good boy, his mother wanting him to be a priest, his talent at baseball?
4. Cole and his age, his place in the family, the wake, Terry wanting to kiss the corpse, the robbery, his drinking, his father discovering his drinking, his being ashamed? Going to confession, his sins, the problem with drinking and stealing, the priest recognising him, urging him to take a stand on his values? Withdrawn from the school, his father’s interview with the priest in charge, the priest and self-sacrifice and the father mocking him, especially about sex abuse and PR in the contemporary church? Cole as shy, meeting the girls at school, the clashes with Terry and his friend? The police? Kathleen’s pregnancy, the family needing money, the decision to withdraw him from the Catholic school, the interview with the priest, his stances, the new school, Terry wanting his trousers back? His being late, the girl talking to him, the hostile teacher, getting detention? His skill at baseball, the throwing, Terry and his whims and throwing the ball away? The coach, his success? Going to work in the restaurant, the interview with Joey? Washing up, delivering the food and seeing his father cleaning shoes outside the barber’s? His coming back and weeping in the kitchen? His waiting at tables, the girl, going for the date, her pet bird and his letting it out of the cage and its death? Terry and his wanting to rob the restaurant? Shooting Joey? Terry’s friend and his violence, being shot by Joey? Cole and his confronting Terry, shooting him as he tried to kill Joey? The emotional dilemma? Going to hospital, his father and his illness, confronting his father in the hospital? Terry in hospital? Cole and his age, playing baseball, his father coming to see him? Having to mature, find his values, stances and decisions?
5. Desmond Mc Kay, the black Irishmen, tough, drinking, distant emotionally, loving his family yet hitting his wife, his weaknesses, failing jobs, inability to deal with his daughter, his despising of Terry, his visit to the doctor, fatal illness, collapse and hospital? With his wife, with Terry injured, Cole standing up to him, going to see him play baseball?
6. Margaret Mc Kay, a strong woman, the Irish Catholic background, giving affection and not giving affection, saying it was difficult to be affectionate to Terry? The wake, her concern about her sons? Kathleen’s pregnancy, taking her to the institution, the nuns, the counsellor? Kathleen walking out, her finding her, the discussions, the reminiscences? Meeting her at the hospital, backing down and her less concern about public opinion? Kissing Terry in the hospital, his hearing it, the issue of lack of affection? Her love for Cole?
7. Terry and his being tough, his friend, at home, defying his father, the wake, the drinking and the robbery in the house, the police, clashing with his father, taking back his trousers from Cole, wanting to sign up to the marines, their reaction to him, his angry outburst? The final robbery, the confrontation with Cole? Hospital?
8. Kathleen, her pregnancy, her boyfriend, the family shame, going to the institution, getting a job, meeting her mother? Accepting the baby?
9. Joey, the hiring of Cole, the jobs, his criminal connections, being shot?
10. The priests, the presentation of the church, confession, values, celibacy, the seminary? Desmond and his shot at the church and the sexual abuse situation? The significance of Desmond, his talking to the crucifix, saying that Jesus was not unhappy on the cross, urging him to come down and change places?
11. A coming-of-age film in difficult circumstances?
