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69TH CORK FILM FEST - #3 (PREMIERE + Q&A)

A fast-paced revenge film that never has a dull moment that somehow manages to pull of the impossible, in my opinion. The entire cast do a fantastic job, but the standout would have to be Nora-Jane Murphy, Barry Keoghan and Christopher Abbot (who's accent is unreal for an American). Both do so much more with their respective roles than anyone else. The themes of abuse, violence and the inability to properly communicate are very welded in here. They are also very current in our world at the moment, so they really spoke to me. I'm very excited to revisit this one on general release.

'Bring Them Down (2024)' is a bleak tale of rivalry, isolation, bitterness, generational trauma and an escalating cycle of vengeance. Focused on a pair of father-son farming families who find themselves in conflict without ever really knowing who struck the first blow or why (or, even, what counts as the first blow), the feature is essentially one long spiral into tragedy. Each time our lonely protagonist is wronged, we want to see him get retribution, all while knowing that doing so won't end well for anybody. Just when we feel we have a handle on things, the narrative winds back the clock to provide an alternate perspective and essentially reveal the reasons behind its chaotic chain of events. The information the back half presents isn't entirely revelatory, nor does it excuse the behaviour exhibited by its previously more mysterious characters, but it does double down on the sadness at the story's core by showcasing how much of what happens is a product of misguided youth rather than malicious intent. A mistake spirals into more mistakes, an insecurity leads to unspeakable cruelty, a brutal request is fulfilled before it's ever solidified as being expected. Things near the verge of potentially peacefully resolving only when it's already too late to stop them. The wound has been struck, the other eye is sought. The only question is: will mercy finally win? No matter the case, nobody comes out of this unscathed. Everything is irrevocably changed forever, and this downfall comes seemingly out of nowhere. Pettiness costs lives. Revenge satisfies no-one. One's own actions bring them down, and there's no getting back up.

The film is incredibly engaging, with an inky atmosphere and an underlying brutality that contrasts with its gorgeous countryside setting. The performances are pitch-perfect, an amalgamation of anger and toxicity and sadness and loneliness and misguided attempts at making things better. The father lets down the son, just as the son lets down the father. Although Barry Keoghan is great, he's definitely too old for this role; his character is seemingly meant to be a teenager, or in his early twenties at the latest, and so much of what he does is informed by his youthful naiveté. He's much easier to understand if you keep in mind that he's immature, essentially still a child who craves nothing more than a happy family who love him despite his flaws. However, Christopher Abbot is bang on the money, carrying a tangible weight in his every scene and mixing gentleness with a capacity for violence incredibly convincingly. He also does a great job with his accent and Gaelic-language lines, feeling right at home alongside his Irish co-stars (including a grumpy, chair-bound Colm Meaney as his not-very-nice father). The direction is really confident, making excellent use of silence and letting the performers do their magic even when there's no dialogue. The cinematography is really effective at conveying both the beauty and harshness of the environment, and the nighttime sequences toe the line between genuine darkness and necessary clarity remarkably well. The whole affair just has this really realistic texture to it, keeping things grounded even when it's plot is at its most contrived (which isn't very, by the way). It's a compelling, immersive experience and it's made even more impressive by the fact that it's a directorial debut. Comparisons to 'The Banshees Of Inisherin (2022)' are inevitable, but this is by no means a rip-off of that much more (darkly) comedic effort. It's its own beast, and it deserves to be considered as such. It's a tense, downbeat experience that often puts a knot in your stomach and keeps it there, all while conveying a sense of sadness that makes you want to put your arms around almost everyone you see and give them a hug that says "everything's going to be alright". It's a tough watch at times (especially if you're an animal lover), but it isn't dour for the sake of it. It's an entertainingly upsetting drama that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

What stands out most is the atmosphere - cold, raw, and tense from start to finish. The setting feels like a character itself, reflecting the emotional isolation of the people who live there. Christopher Abbott gives a strong performance as Michael, and Barry Keoghan, as always, brings intensity and depth to his role.

The film doesn't hold back from showing the harsh reality of rural life.

While the pacing can be slow at times, it fits the tone of the story. It's not a film for everyone, especially if you prefer light entertainment - but if you're looking for a serious, well-acted drama with a powerful message, Bring Them Down is worth your time.

We start with a fairly traumatic car accident that goes some way in explaining just why, many years later, the sheep farming "Michael" (Christopher Abbott) is living with his immobile dad (Colm Meaney) and living a fairly unfulfilled life. Their neighbour calls to advise that a couple of his rams have been found dead on their farm and so when he goes to investigate, we meet "Caroline" (Nora-Jane Noone) who used to be his girlfriend before she left him for "Gary" (Paul Ready) and they had son "Jack" (Barry Keoghan). With no evidence of the corpses, he heads to the market to buy replacements only to find that his neighbours haven't been straight with him and that there's quite enough history here to ensure that "Michael" keeps his mouth shut. Meantime, things aren't proving much better for the couple next door as their farm is struggling to pay it's way and when their young son comes up with an unilateral scheme with his thuggish cousin "Lee" (Aaron Heffernan) to raise, rather brutally, some extra cash then things turn violent and dangerous now with just about every element of trust out the window! This isn't a mystery for the squeamish as it highlights some of the real difficulties faced by hill farmers facing financial difficulties trying to make their inhospitable land pay. The story itself here is a bit of a mess, and though it does gradually start to make a little sense towards the end, for the most part it seems a little too thinly stretched and reliant on the time-shifting chronology to tell us an under-characterised story from differing perspectives as the threads rather far-fetchedly come together at the end. It's a fine looking film offering an authentic look at a barely better than subsistence form of life populated by folks suspicious of newcomers and of each other, but I couldn't help but feel this needed a much firmer hand on the storytelling front and Keoghan just too old for the part. Abbott delivers well, and it's still worth a watch - but television in due course ought to be fine.

The story begins with significant potential, particularly following the extensive buildup that led me to anticipate a conclusion that would be equally, if not more, impactful.

However, the writing had different ideas.

Issues emerge as the second half unfolds, particularly when the plot opts for a non-linear approach and delves determinedly into flashbacks.

The established rhythm and momentum plummeted dramatically. While there were a few intriguing characters and relationship dynamics to dig into, the script only skimmed the surface, resulting in a futile tale of 'Vengeance' that ultimately delivered no meaningful impact.