Cal

the atmosphere, the predictable end, Cal as a kind of new Raskolnikov, the love story , the cinematography, all, each are pieces of a beautiful film about pain, past and regrets. and this is the explanation why "Cal" remains, against the errors, a gem . because it reflects, in delicate-precise manner, a state. ambiguous, profound, Irish at whole, shadow of deep solitude and the illusion to escape from yourself. and, sure, the chance to have two great actors in the lead roles is one of the good things. but its force is result of the belief in the second chance. and in the forgiveness who could change everything. in essence, it is the film of John Lynch who gives a splendid Cal. but, in same measure, it is one of films for remember. not only the traces of the past. but the price of its errors.

A lot of people will miss the meaning of this film. Only those who are from Northern Ireland or who "know" the truth about Northern Ireland will appreciate this movie. A classic!!

"The wages of sin is death" ---Romans 8:5. That's the board nailed on a tree by a priest soon after the opening credits. Lots of killings and finally the wages of sin is indeed death. Ordinary tale of the hatred between the Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland. However, Ms (Dame) Helen Mirren is truly wonderful in this film, deserving of her Cannes Best Actress win for her role here.

The film "Cal" is about a young boy who falls in love with Marcella, both Catholic. Cal "works" for the IRA, and he participated in the killing of Marcella's husband. Cal wants to get out of the IRA, but that's not too easy. Anyway, the whole story is really about the relationship between Cal and Marcella, a great Irish love story. A story with an Irish ending...

Although I had never watched this because it was rather difficult for me so that the IRA and the bombs still so near in the 70s. But when I saw Neil Jordan's, the wonderful, Angel (1982) I bought it. But I still didn't watch it although after I'd seen Kenneth Branagh's Belfast (2021) then I thought surely I was brave enough to watch this. Of course it turns out that it is not at all terrible or harrowing and it becomes to be more like a romance. There is still some killing and fighting and burning but nothing like as it could have been. It begins well but becomes just a bit silly towards the end. I also thought that Helen Mirren was fine but no idea how she had an award at Cannes. She had been fantastic in The Long Good Friday (1980) and also Hussy the same year and even rather brave with Caligula (1979). I guess that it was difficult doing, The Cook, the Thief & Her Lover (1989) but was one of her best but Cal is only okay.