Cal

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.

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!!

It's interesting to see Irish reviewers' takes on movies like this. I haven't seen Cal in years, but I still listen to the beautiful soundtrack by Mark Knopfler. I put it on this morning, which is why I thought to look up the movie here.

I remember being captivated by the drama of this young kid in over his head, both with the IRA and in his romance with an older woman. The scenes had a raw grittiness that felt very real to me when I saw it in the theater, back in the mid-1980s.

So it's surprising to me to hear the film described by at least one reviewer here as both unlikely and clichéd. And I can't argue with that, in terms of history or culture or politics, because I wasn't there. Anyone who lived in Belfast at the time would surely have a more realistic view of the IRA and of Irish culture than I do.

But this morning, my young son looked up when that first song came on, and gave me a look, like, "What in the world is this?" After the song ended, he said, "Dad, it's so beautiful, it almost hurts." That's how I always felt about Cal. I'm a sucker for anything that's both beautiful and sad. That's how I remember the movie.

"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.