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.

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.

I enjoyed this film very much particularly because of its Irish flavor. John Lynch is incredibly real as an IRA member(not of his own doing) who really hasn't the stomach for it. Everything about the film is as it should be. Lynch's long suffering Cal who has helped murder the Protestant husband of the woman he is now infatuated with is wonderfully portrayed. Day to day life of the people is almost like watching a documentary. Cal's guilt-ridden life couldn't be more boring from playing his guitar to borrowing tapes at the library to spying on Marcella all the time aware that the UVC will burn him and his "Da" out.

Love the Irish lingo and wit as well as the Uilleann pipes and traditional Irish soundtrack that make it sing. The sensual relationship between Cal and Marcella is bound to take off but you know it is doomed from the start. Two people searching for meaning in a harsh and lonely world. Helen Mirren gives another great performance as the unsatisfied older woman giving in to love. If you want to see a simple film about real people don't miss this sad, revealing tale.

One of my all time favorites.

"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.

Irish romantic drama with Helen Mirren and John Lynch

This film by Pat O'Connor from 1984 is a memory of English lessons at the reformed high school in the Federal Republic of Germany. The atmospherically dense and well-acted film is based on the novella of the same name by the Irish author Bernard MacLaverty (*1942), who also wrote the screenplay. The great music comes from Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), the camera was directed by Jerzy Zielinski from Poland. The film was shot in the eastern Irish port town of Drogheda.

The story is told by Cal (John Lynch, *1961). Young, unemployed and without direction, he provides driving services for the underground IRA. He also took part in the murder of an RUC member. About a year after this crime, he met the attractive Marcella Morton (Helen Mirren, *1945) in the city library, who immediately captivated the young man. It turns out that the Catholic woman was married to the murdered RUC member. Nevertheless, young Cal begins an affair with the slightly older woman...

The Northern Ireland conflict was still very present in the early 1990s when I saw the film for the first time. The later ACADEMY AWARD winner Helen Mirren (she won the award in 2007 for her role in THE QUEEN) acts so impressively in this film that she was awarded the Silver Palm at the Cannes Film Festival. It is completely clear to the viewer why Cal immediately falls in love with this woman. A fantastic performance by this great actress!