Notícias

The latest Irish tale of the Troubles to reach our shores, this film -- based on a real-life incident from 1950s Ireland -- depicts the battle between a Protestant woman and a Catholic man over the education of their two young daughters and the effects it has on their community. While it contains undeniably moving and powerful moments, "A Love Divided" is both overly familiar in its themes and uncomfortably close to melodrama. The film is playing an exclusive engagement at New York's Quad Cinema.

The couple, Sheila (Orla Brady) and Sean (Liam Cunningham), are very much in love and clearly willing to work to resolve their religious issues. Indeed, when they get married, they have not one but three ceremonies: Protestant, Catholic and civil. Sheila does, however, agree to raise their children as Roman Catholics. But when it comes time for their two young daughters to start school, she balks when the imperious local priest, Father Stafford (Tony Doyle), insists that the girls attend Catholic school, saying the decision should rest with her and her husband. When Sean all too willingly accedes to Stafford's demands, Sheila takes her daughters and flees to Scotland. Enraged, Stafford starts a boycott of the Protestant-owned businesses in the village. The resulting conflict has national repercussions and further divides the already inflamed population.

While it's hard to quibble with a story whose basic elements are true, it must be said that there's a schematic quality to the characters and incidents that detracts from the film's overall impact. Particularly egregious is the depiction of Stafford; despite the strong performance by veteran Irish actor Doyle, the character comes across as little more than a rote villain. And while the two lead performers do an excellent job of conveying their characters' deep love for each other, too often Stuart Hepburn's screenplay fails to adequately delineate the complexity of their motivations. Ultimately, "Love" has the feel of a well-intentioned, socially meaningful made-for-television film.

A LOVE DIVIDED

The Cinema Guild

Director: Sydney Macartney

Screenwriter: Stuart Hepburn

Producers: Alan Moloney, Tim Palmer, Gerry Gregg

Director of photography: Cedric Culliton

Editor: Ray Roantree

Music: Fiachra Trench

Production designer: Alan Farquharson

Color/stereo

Cast:

Sean Cloney: Liam Cunningham

Sheila Kelly: Orla Brady

Father Stafford: Tony Doyle

Eileen Cloney: Sarah Bolger

Rev. Fisher: Jim Norton

Bishop Staunton: John Kavanagh

Running time -- 98 minutes

No MPAA rating...

The latest Irish tale of the Troubles to reach our shores, this film -- based on a real-life incident from 1950s Ireland -- depicts the battle between a Protestant woman and a Catholic man over the education of their two young daughters and the effects it has on their community. While it contains undeniably moving and powerful moments, "A Love Divided" is both overly familiar in its themes and uncomfortably close to melodrama. The film is playing an exclusive engagement at New York's Quad Cinema.

The couple, Sheila (Orla Brady) and Sean (Liam Cunningham), are very much in love and clearly willing to work to resolve their religious issues. Indeed, when they get married, they have not one but three ceremonies: Protestant, Catholic and civil. Sheila does, however, agree to raise their children as Roman Catholics. But when it comes time for their two young daughters to start school, she balks when the imperious local priest, Father Stafford (Tony Doyle), insists that the girls attend Catholic school, saying the decision should rest with her and her husband. When Sean all too willingly accedes to Stafford's demands, Sheila takes her daughters and flees to Scotland. Enraged, Stafford starts a boycott of the Protestant-owned businesses in the village. The resulting conflict has national repercussions and further divides the already inflamed population.

While it's hard to quibble with a story whose basic elements are true, it must be said that there's a schematic quality to the characters and incidents that detracts from the film's overall impact. Particularly egregious is the depiction of Stafford; despite the strong performance by veteran Irish actor Doyle, the character comes across as little more than a rote villain. And while the two lead performers do an excellent job of conveying their characters' deep love for each other, too often Stuart Hepburn's screenplay fails to adequately delineate the complexity of their motivations. Ultimately, "Love" has the feel of a well-intentioned, socially meaningful made-for-television film.

A LOVE DIVIDED

The Cinema Guild

Director: Sydney Macartney

Screenwriter: Stuart Hepburn

Producers: Alan Moloney, Tim Palmer, Gerry Gregg

Director of photography: Cedric Culliton

Editor: Ray Roantree

Music: Fiachra Trench

Production designer: Alan Farquharson

Color/stereo

Cast:

Sean Cloney: Liam Cunningham

Sheila Kelly: Orla Brady

Father Stafford: Tony Doyle

Eileen Cloney: Sarah Bolger

Rev. Fisher: Jim Norton

Bishop Staunton: John Kavanagh

Running time -- 98 minutes

No MPAA rating...