That They May Face the Rising Sun

A strange movie but one worth seeing. What I expected was a kind of a modified version of the The Quiet Man because as an Irish person you expect that kind of nonsense twee movie, but this isn't it. Yes there are stereotypes in the movie and it is set in the 1980s, but overall it is a movie about a location and a movie about nothing really happening, which is what occurs in most of our lives.

The whole essence of the movie IMHO is that it's visual, visceral and about how the land and seasons shape the people and dictate their lives unless they decide to do otherwise. The main character is a little too smugly self-satisfied, but other than that it's well worth absorbing this movie.

There is a lot to praise in That They May Face The Rising Sun: stunning scenery, great acting, beautiful score, but the presence of a strong plot, theme, or central relationship, one of which at least, is required to hold a great film together, was lacking. The married couple around whose lives and cottage the main action revolved, seemed to coexist largely on a diet of meaningful glances and melancholy embraces. Joe's (Barry Ward) depiction as a stoic Good Samaritan-friend, embalmer, driver, letter-writer to all, starved the actor of any emotional range, and the the action of any dramatic surprise. His wife (Anna Bederke) had little to do but smile serenely at her new, semi-cloistered, adopted world, like a novice nun stuck with her vows. Clearly Pat Collins placed most of his chips on mood and atmosphere, which for me, often echoed that doomed rural isolation and missed opportunity which The Ballroom of Romance did so well. I liked some set pieces, particularly the the wedding, where the close up of Brendan Conroy's lonely face tore at the heart. The wake (strangely, for its time, without a priest in sight) and laying out of Johnny's corpse, showed the single death is also a communal one. I loved Sean McGinley's performance, especially in that devastating scene where his eyes and voice convey the deep shame he feels for having left Ireland, only to end up cleaning the 'English jacks' in Fords.

The film succeeds in what it sets out to do; capture life in the ordinary moments of ordinary, often frustrated individuals, present it in significant, often striking fragments rather serve it up as a coherent narrative whole, a kind of style that Fellini perfected in the incomparable Amarcord.

Having grown up in rural donegal, it was a great movie as it brought up so many memories. It felt very true to the time and place. They obviously put a lot of time and thought into certain scenes and how people would have interacting at the time. Its a slow movie but it hits a punch. It goes without saying that the long shots of the scenery are beautiful and it is done in a way that it ties into the story. I hope that people that are not familiar with the place don't think that the more eccentric characters are overplayed or exaggerated as these are characters that are very familiar to those that grow up in rural Ireland.

A moving picture!

I pretty much went into the cinema with 'That They May Face the Rising Sun' totally blind in terms of what to expect, just the way I like it mind you. All I knew was that it was outta Ireland and based on a book, which I evidently hadn't heard of. I'm pleased to say what greeted my eyes was a very splended movie.

The story is simple, one that holds no bells and whistles. I don't mean that in a negative way whatsoever, as it is the film's greatest element. It's all very grounded, which allows the acting talent to shine. Though, the cinematography is exquisite. It is also paced to perfection, in that regard I was kinda caught off guard when the credits appeared!

Barry Ward and Anna Bederke are the cover stars and are worthy in their roles of Joe and Kate, I enjoyed them both. However, those behind them are the standouts for me. Lalor Roddy is fantastic as Patrick, so much emotion (and humour!) delivered from him throughout. Brendan Conroy does a lot with relatively little, similarly (first time actor, so I read?!) Phillip Dolan and Sean McGinley (esp. At the end).

It's all extremely touching. Safe to say, I'd highly recommend this!

There's something very potent about the Celtic habit of understating things. A few choice words, a bit of sarcasm or invocation of nature or, occasionally, religion coupled with some perfectly judged facial expressions or shrugs! It can be used to really good comic effect and to illustrate entertainingly just how folks live their lives and deal with death. "Joe" (Barry Ward) and wife "Kate" (Anna Bederke) live in their rural home where he is trying to put together his latest book and she juggles her time between running a gallery in London and living the dream amidst a remarkably dry Ireland. The film essentially plonks us in their home for a few days as we watch a variety of local souls pop in for tea, whiskey and chat. What's quite striking about this community is the lack of the young. Everyone here is nearer the end than the beginning, and with the vacillating character of "Patrick" (Lalor Roddy), the returning from Britain "Johnny" (Sean McKinley), his brother "Jamesie" (Phillip Dolan) and the curmudgeon that is "Bill" (Brendan Conroy) making up the characterful sextuplet of regulars we are presented with a glimpse at a perfectly plausible day in the life sort of thing... The "Patrick" character is probably the most interesting, flawed and decent, angry yet caring; but the others all fit into this sympathetically filmed jigsaw puzzle of what goes around comes around nicely. Don't expect lots to actually happen, but do expect to smile quite a bit and think a little, too.