Bring Them Down

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: A savage tale of feuding hill farmers, sheep stoen, sheep mutilated, just their legs cut off to be sold. All tied in with a car crash which took place twenty years before but the consequences of which still impinge on pent day events. This was advertised as being partially a comedy but the few comedic moments are bleak and the laughter will likely choke in yiur throat. Not just animals but humans also suffer terrible deaths and injuries. In the second half of the film some of the events we have already observed are revisited and we achieve a clearer understanding of what is really going on. Non-linear narratives often enhance a film but I don't believe it does so in this instance. Good performances from Barry Keoghan, Colm Meaney, Christopher Abbot, Paul Ready and Nora-Jane Noone even if Keoghan is getting a bit long on the tooth to be playing a teenager. Maybe an Irish Hatfields & McCoys or a Beckettian Bog Western. Written and Directed by Christopher Andrews. 7/10.

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.

It's a conflict drama between neighboring Irish sheep farmers based on faulty talking, faulty listening, and quick tempers. Michael O'Shea (Christopher Abbott) lives with his bitter, disabled father, Ray (Colm Meaney). Before the titles, we learn that 20 years before, Michael recklessly drove a car into an accident that killed his mother, who had just told Michael she was leaving his father, and seriously injured his girlfriend, Caroline (Nora-Jane Noone). Caroline eventually married the next-door farmer, Gary (Paul Ready), and they had a son, now an older teenager, Jack (Barry Keoghan).

Events unfold in escalating hostility between the neighbors, though Caroline tries to maintain the peace. The film's first half tells the story from Michael's perspective; the second half is more from Jack's perspective. When seen together, we learn that accusations based on faulty assumptions and distorted memories lead to increasing violence. The film ends when things have gone too far.

"Bring Them Down" has a double meaning--bringing the sheep down from the hills in winter and bringing down the evil neighbor. The non-linear nature of the story demands focused attention throughout but is rewarding. Abbott, Keoghan, and Noone are excellent. Meaney is memorable but a bit clichéd.