Old-age Jazz music and Yeat’s romantic poetry are not enough!
Ken Loach has done a sequel to his acclaimed, well-received
movie “The Wind that Shakes the
Barley”. As we know, no sequel can come up to the lofty height of the original, but Ken Loach is at a
vantage positon. He is not spreading out a story, he’s just recording history. As a movie-maker he
can interpret history on his own. The Barley was based on The Irish civil war of 1919-22 which was,
in the real case, turned out to be sell-out to the British and the Church. “The Masters and the
pastors” held the reigns ever after. However, you can’t extinguish the ‘simmer of discontent’ once
and for all. James Gralton was a fiery activist during the Irish ‘War of Independence’ and he felt
cheated when the treaty was signed between the British royalty and the IRA with the active
connivance of the Church. Gralton couldn’t take it lying down and he made up his mind for a self-
imposed-exile. He landed up in New York City. The condition of common people was not any day
better on the other side of the Atlantic either. Gralton pulled on for ten years before wrapping up.
The great Depression of the thirties was already showing up its ugly hood and James Gralton
renamed as Jimmy Gralton in the film, packed his meagre trunk-box with a few Jazz records that he
collected from Harlem and a gramophone. The movie begins with Jimmy’s home coming to his
County Leitrim where his mother runs the family farm. She is a cut above the rest, a self-starter, go
getter and a never-ending source of courage. She ran a library and studied the books on her own
and educated children in the neighborhood.
Barley”. As we know, no sequel can come up to the lofty height of the original, but Ken Loach is at a
vantage positon. He is not spreading out a story, he’s just recording history. As a movie-maker he
can interpret history on his own. The Barley was based on The Irish civil war of 1919-22 which was,
in the real case, turned out to be sell-out to the British and the Church. “The Masters and the
pastors” held the reigns ever after. However, you can’t extinguish the ‘simmer of discontent’ once
and for all. James Gralton was a fiery activist during the Irish ‘War of Independence’ and he felt
cheated when the treaty was signed between the British royalty and the IRA with the active
connivance of the Church. Gralton couldn’t take it lying down and he made up his mind for a self-
imposed-exile. He landed up in New York City. The condition of common people was not any day
better on the other side of the Atlantic either. Gralton pulled on for ten years before wrapping up.
The great Depression of the thirties was already showing up its ugly hood and James Gralton
renamed as Jimmy Gralton in the film, packed his meagre trunk-box with a few Jazz records that he
collected from Harlem and a gramophone. The movie begins with Jimmy’s home coming to his
County Leitrim where his mother runs the family farm. She is a cut above the rest, a self-starter, go
getter and a never-ending source of courage. She ran a library and studied the books on her own
and educated children in the neighborhood.
 |
| Sergeiy Vasilyevich - The Partisan's Mother -1943 |
As we know, the movie is based on the life and times of a
real-life activist James Gralton, an
Irishman who held double citizenship but was deported to the United States. The sequence of
events is correct. This is a period film after all. Except for an imaginary love affair James had with an
angelic girl named Oonagh. Alas! Jimmy and Oonagh couldn’t take it to the finishing point though
our hero had all USPs (sorry for the wrong usage) for winning female hearts. Ken Loach is lucky
because all remarks about original Gralton have been expunged from Government records .
Now, the Director's Licence is at work! The script-writer has got wings!
Jimmy (James originally) had started a common meeting place for the peasants, Pearse-Connolly
Hall (named after his favorite Union leader) and educated the plain folk with dance, music, poetry and even boxing.
Naturally, the activities at the Hall leads to eye-ball to eye-ball confrontation between Jimmy and
Fr.Sheridan. The Father is clever enough to foresee the future. The youth will get attracted to “Jazzy
music ….pelvic thrusts” and they will be given igniting reading material. Naturally they’ll start
questioning power-centres for the injustice perpetuated. “The Losangelisation of our people should
not be tolerated”, Father declares. He does the Senator McCarthy Act to eliminate the Red
influence. At the same time, he understands Communism more than anyone else. In the privacy of
his study, he admits to his junior that the cardinal principle of the ideology, i.e., “From each
according to his ability and to each according to his need” is wonderfully similar to the New
Testament’s maxim “Love Thy Neighbor”. He goes on to add that Communism is quasi religious.
Secretly he admires Jimmy for his selflessness and courage. The father is rather reluctant in
acknowledging it. He is very secretive about his inner self! I don’t know why he doesn’t turn into a
liberation theologist, that’s the logical conclusion. Instead he is trying the McCarthian techniques
one after other.
Irishman who held double citizenship but was deported to the United States. The sequence of
events is correct. This is a period film after all. Except for an imaginary love affair James had with an
angelic girl named Oonagh. Alas! Jimmy and Oonagh couldn’t take it to the finishing point though
our hero had all USPs (sorry for the wrong usage) for winning female hearts. Ken Loach is lucky
because all remarks about original Gralton have been expunged from Government records .
Now, the Director's Licence is at work! The script-writer has got wings!
Jimmy (James originally) had started a common meeting place for the peasants, Pearse-Connolly
Hall (named after his favorite Union leader) and educated the plain folk with dance, music, poetry and even boxing.
Naturally, the activities at the Hall leads to eye-ball to eye-ball confrontation between Jimmy and
Fr.Sheridan. The Father is clever enough to foresee the future. The youth will get attracted to “Jazzy
music ….pelvic thrusts” and they will be given igniting reading material. Naturally they’ll start
questioning power-centres for the injustice perpetuated. “The Losangelisation of our people should
not be tolerated”, Father declares. He does the Senator McCarthy Act to eliminate the Red
influence. At the same time, he understands Communism more than anyone else. In the privacy of
his study, he admits to his junior that the cardinal principle of the ideology, i.e., “From each
according to his ability and to each according to his need” is wonderfully similar to the New
Testament’s maxim “Love Thy Neighbor”. He goes on to add that Communism is quasi religious.
Secretly he admires Jimmy for his selflessness and courage. The father is rather reluctant in
acknowledging it. He is very secretive about his inner self! I don’t know why he doesn’t turn into a
liberation theologist, that’s the logical conclusion. Instead he is trying the McCarthian techniques
one after other.
First he isolates the people who visit Jimmy’s Hall, reads out their names in parish meetings and
then arranges for a social boycott. Since the strategy nosedives, he introduces another one in which
the Police acts as the watchdog for the Father. The uniformed men enter the Hall at any time they
like, showing-off the guns in hand. Goons hired by the local land-owners set fire to the dwellings of
Estate workers in the dead of the night. Needless to say, they are all natural sympathizers of Jimmy.
then arranges for a social boycott. Since the strategy nosedives, he introduces another one in which
the Police acts as the watchdog for the Father. The uniformed men enter the Hall at any time they
like, showing-off the guns in hand. Goons hired by the local land-owners set fire to the dwellings of
Estate workers in the dead of the night. Needless to say, they are all natural sympathizers of Jimmy.
 |
| Kazimir Malevich - The Workers |
Meanwhile, Jimmy tries his level-best to bring the defiant Father
to his fold. He keeps some Jazz
records at the doorsteps and the father is moved by the anguish in the female singer’s voice. The
first time Fr. Sheridan actually listened to someone else!
records at the doorsteps and the father is moved by the anguish in the female singer’s voice. The
first time Fr. Sheridan actually listened to someone else!
However, Jimmy continues with his efforts. On an advice of Oonagh
, he invites the Father to be a
member of board of Trustees (of Pearse-Connolly Hall). Father accepts it on one condition – the
deed of the land & building should change hands. That’s the limit! Jimmy erupts,
member of board of Trustees (of Pearse-Connolly Hall). Father accepts it on one condition – the
deed of the land & building should change hands. That’s the limit! Jimmy erupts,
Father, you’re having
more hate in your heart than Love.
Now Sheridan is fully convinced that Jimmy cannot be won
over by any conceivable way. The end
game is in sight. Usually it’s the physical elimination of the person(s). Luckily Fr.Sheridan chooses
the lesser evil. He arranges to deport Jimmy for holding two passports. Jimmy is arrested by the
Police at the second attempt. He manages to give the slip at the first time with the help of his mother.
game is in sight. Usually it’s the physical elimination of the person(s). Luckily Fr.Sheridan chooses
the lesser evil. He arranges to deport Jimmy for holding two passports. Jimmy is arrested by the
Police at the second attempt. He manages to give the slip at the first time with the help of his mother.
He is deported to the US without a trial.
 |
| Marc Chagall - Scene de Cirque |
The movie is over. After watching the film, you’re in a fix.
You don’t know whether to like the film or
not! Anyway, Ken Loach grows on you in the meantime. You are definitely moved by the film-maker's sincerity.
However, he harbors romantic ideas about Communism. He is a classical communist, rather. Such a
person just refuses to acknowledge change. Though the cardinal principles of Communism just
cannot change, it’s applicability does. Communism is an internally dynamic philosophy. The rot is
definite to set in and the practitioner should be able to arrest it. Like Dharma in many ways. The
core of Dharma is the spiritual element. Practice of Selflessness and the cultivation of Love. If one
has an inkling for Dharma, one can arrive at the modes for the rescue operation.
not! Anyway, Ken Loach grows on you in the meantime. You are definitely moved by the film-maker's sincerity.
However, he harbors romantic ideas about Communism. He is a classical communist, rather. Such a
person just refuses to acknowledge change. Though the cardinal principles of Communism just
cannot change, it’s applicability does. Communism is an internally dynamic philosophy. The rot is
definite to set in and the practitioner should be able to arrest it. Like Dharma in many ways. The
core of Dharma is the spiritual element. Practice of Selflessness and the cultivation of Love. If one
has an inkling for Dharma, one can arrive at the modes for the rescue operation.
Both Communism and Spirituality are essentially the same.
Ken Loach must throw his romantic ideas to the winds!
*************