June 10, 2024

An Irish social realism for Irish problems?

In this RTÉ production, sixteen-year-old Martin returns from reform school to an overcrowded home, inattentive parents, little opportunity, considerable prejudice, and all-too-frequent advice on the importance of law, order, and property.

Clergy in the film are largely well-meaning. They introduce it and provide commentary – like an episode of _Radharc_, a popular, long-running Irish documentary s… read the rest.

An Irish social realism for Irish problems?

In this RTÉ production, sixteen-year-old Martin returns from reform school to an overcrowded home, inattentive parents, little opportunity, considerable prejudice, and all-too-frequent advice on the importance of law, order, and property.

Clergy in the film are largely well-meaning. They introduce it and provide commentary – like an episode of _Radharc_, a popular, long-running Irish documentary series (1962-1996)) – but repeatedly express their own inadequacy for their work.

MacLochlainn and Ó Marcaigh do a grand job, with the help of Stewart, Ireland’s greatest jazz musician. And there are a number of surprises among the cast.

Recommended.

Note: I added this based on the little information I could find. Please feel free to offer corrections. See www.rte.ie/archives/2016/1206/836988-a-week-in-the-life-of-martin-cluxton/

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