A Love Divided

This movie might not put the Catholic church in the best light but it is telling a story based on true events. Unfortunately not everything in life, including religion, are all nice and rosy. Sometimes people and groups do things that at the time seem like the right thing but in retrospective do not look as great as they once did. "A Love Divided" tells the story of a family, yes it does incorporate religion, but really the story is about a family, and that family's ability to stay together no matter what is thrown at them. This film is also based on true events which is not to say that this story, scene by scene, is true, but if you were to look at news articles from that time period you would be able to see that neither churches handled the incident in a way that was helpful towards the family. Both churches are at fault here, the Catholic church for forcing such a regulation on the family in the first place and not responding to the violence that came with it and the Protestant church for telling the mother that she should just obey her husband and his priest and not put up a fight. In this case both let this family down. I believe that the film does a good job in showing this struggle in both the church and the family. It in no way shape or form is putting down the Catholic church, just the opposite, it shows how one incident can change the course of that religion's ideas and how one person can have an effect far more reaching then just themselves.

To say this film is simply a demonisation of Catholics and a misrepresentation of history is untrue. That is not what this film is.

What this film is is a comment on the abuses of the Church (although this could be substituted for any powerful body), the ways that this abuse affects people and families and the way so many people choose to simply allow and often participate in the abuse without thinking for themselves. The fact that it is the Catholic church which is in the wrong is simply because of the nature of the true story the film is based upon. To label this as propaganda against Catholics seems to miss the truth about what the Catholic Church has done at times; its history is often not great and is something that films like this highlight and that needs to be highlighted. Yes we should comment on the abuses committed by other organisations but that is not for the remit of this film.

It is an amazing film which brought me to tears and well worth watching - 'if we do not study the past, we are bound to repeat it'

This was a gem. Amazing acting from the leads Liam Cunningham, Orla Brady and all the supporting cast. The movie raises a subject not only pertinent to Ireland and Irish history but to many communities around the world and many marriage units within those communities. With intensity and sincerity the movie shows how the religious convictions and traditions drove a wedge on a loving and passionate family. The title "Love divided" couldn't capture it any better. Even though it was a true story and happening in Ireland of the 50th seeing how the life of the whole village erodes and "pogroms" are starting reminded me of Russian history. The intolerance and prejudice are still too powerful in the world and unfortunately it's deeply hidden inside the human nature. Just like in the movie the Liam Cunningham's character says "the hatred had always been there under the surface". It was interesting to watch the moral choices people were making in this story. Also the character of a catholic priest and what happened to him in the end of the story was quite meaningful. The story however gives hope that love of two people can conquer everything and love makes us better, stronger. Liam Cunningham's character goes through the whole transformation in the course of the story becoming a man he always wanted to be. Again acting is a top notch. Story is fast-paced. Irish countryside is as beautiful as ever. Highly recommended.

I thought that this picture had vanished from sight when it got an unexpected but fairly wide release in Northern Ireland. I am glad that a much bigger audience can now see it as it is a very honest and thought provoking look at the power held by the church in rural Ireland in the 1950.s, a period with which I can identify.Although it includes a who's who of the Irish acting fraternity, they all put in some magnificent performances. The picture is a study in control, and how the controller will respond if anyone dares to challenge their authority.Liam Cunningham is very believable as the Catholic husband torn between the love for his Protestant wife ( Orla Brady ) and the demands placed on him by the parish priest for his two girls to be brought up as Catholics. Based on a true and well publicised incident in Co.Wexford, forces us to confront the bigotry which blind faith can lead us all to.I recommend this picture to anyone who is out there, go and see it.

I recognize many of the common Oirish cliches we wish were taken out of Irish films, yet this film isn't about the simple life in an Oirish village such as Waking Ned or BallyK. It deals with a part of our history that my parents well remember. A Love Divided is about a true incident in Co. Wexford in the late 1950's. In order to marry a Catholic, a Protestant woman signs a 'ne temere' pledge to raise their children in the Catholic church. When their oldest daughter reaches the age to start school and the Protestant mother decides she does not want to send her daughter blindly to Catholic school, pledge or no, a string of events takes place that affects the lives of the town and those outside it.

The acting is brilliant. Liam Cunningham is magnificent as the husband caught between his religion and the family he loves. Orla Brady is equally magnificent as the defiant wife. Some may view this film as another show to the world that Ireland is a land of religious intolerance. I believe the fact that Irish film makers are now portraying incidents in our past such as the one in A Love Divided proves we recognize our past and are no longer doomed to repeat it.